Discover Squamish Summer 2021 by Pacific Coastal Publications LP

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INSIDE

Adventures for the whole family by land, water and sky

PLUS

Creating a summer haven in your own backyard

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Contents INTRODUCTION

6 Welcome to the summer 2021 version of Discover Squamish

Single Tracks: Lights, Camera, Action, and more fun facts!

22 Creating a summer haven in your own backyard

Squamish offers adventures for the whole family by land, water and sky

26 How to make your Squamish home into a rental space

30 Strong independent sips — Squamish’s coffee culture

Discover Squamish

Squamish’s Wind Festival keeps going with gusto

28 Going green — two local innovative companies

34 New eateries popping up in Squamish, yes even during this pandemic year

Cover

Volume 8 / Issue 1 SUMMER 2021

publisher

Sarah Strother sstrother@wplpmedia.com

Find us online at www.squamishchief.com /discover-squamish

sales manager

Shawn Cornell scornell@squamishchief.com

published by

editor

Jennifer Thuncher jthuncher@squamishchief.com sales

Cathie Greenlees cgreenlees@squamishchief.com Deanne Cornell dcornell@squamishchief.com creative director / production

Karl Partington kpartington@wplpmedia.com 4 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

squamishchief.com Taking it all in! Photo by James O’Neil/ GettyImages.ca

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summer 2021 Welcome to the

version of Discover Squamish

PHOTO BY EDB3_16 / GETTYIMAGES.CA

The last year hasn’t been easy for any of us, so, more than ever, we are glad you are here. Though I see it from start to finish, I always learn something about Squamish and its people from this magazine’s stories, and this edition is certainly no exception. While editing this year’s Discover Squamish, I — er — discovered a theme I hadn’t expected. Silver linings. It sounds cliche, but sometimes things are repeated because they are true. Independently, each source said a version of: “The pandemic has been hard, but...” The pandemic has been hard,

6 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

but folks in Squamish focused more on family by making their homes and yards an oasis. The pandemic has been hard, but business has been steady or increased. The pandemic has been hard, but we learned to pivot and reach a broader audience. The pandemic has been hard, but we live in the best place in the world to get outside and have an adventure. The pandemic has been hard, but we opened our restaurant anyway and we are glad we did. The pandemic has been hard, but, dang, Squamish has a great coffee culture.

These folks didn’t just survive, in most cases, they evolved to thrive. For those of us behind the magazine, this was a revelation of sorts, a chance to reflect on our own silver linings that come from surviving a global pandemic. If you are holding our magazine in your hands, you made it through too. We hope you enjoy our stories and the inspiration they offer as much as we enjoyed bringing them to you. Now get out and Discover Squamish, safely, of course.

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Single Tracks

Squamish is a unique place, and locals are proud of that fact. Here are some “single tracks” or interesting facts that make Squamish special.

Lights, Camera Action!

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRE MORIN-LAPRISE / GETTYIMAGES.CA 8 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

Squamish has long been a popular spot for movies, TV shows and commercials to be shot. The district saw an average of 38 film productions per year between 2015 and 2020, with the highest number of film productions in 2016, which saw 61 productions. Along with many other creative industries, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on filming resulted in an industry shutdown in British Columbia for three months in 2020. The district did not see any filming activity from March through to mid-July, as travel was limited in B.C. by the Public Health Order. But, in the end, Squamish saw the same number of productions in 2020 as in 2019 (26) as steps were taken to reduce interaction and impact on the community, including limiting the use of municipal streets for parking and limiting exterior filming in downtown and business hubs during business hours, according to Sarah Dicker, acting manager of arts and culture for the District of Squamish. According to Creative BC, 246 Squamish residents were employed in film production in 2019. The reported film production crew wage amount for Squamish in 2019 was more than $8-million (the 2020 figures are not yet available). In addition, the number of film-related businesses located in Squamish has grown to over 25, according to current District business licensing numbers. Notable productions that have come to Squamish over the years include: Virgin River (2019-2020) Riverdale (2017) Supernatural (Season 11) (2016) The Man in the High Castle (2015) Bates Motel (2015) Flowers in the Attic (2013) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2013) Twilight (2011) Fantastic Four (2004-2005)

Odd Squamish History A strange but true fact about Squamish is that former Hudson’s Bay Company ships were among the first steamers to visit here. Local historian Eric Andersen tells us that the SS Beaver and SS Otter, brought to this coast by the Hudson’s Bay Co., are among the most noteworthy west coast ‘Personality Ships’ to have visited Squamish harbour. The Beaver (built 1835) was the first steamer in the Pacific Northwest, and the Otter (built 1852) was the first screw propeller vessel here, Andersen notes. As Squamish Nation people were in regular contact with Fort Langley (est. 1827) on the Fraser and with rival U.S. traders visiting nearby coastal waters, there was little need for these vessels to visit northern Howe Sound to collect furs. Visits of these steamers to Squamish came later, when they were no longer HBC-owned vessels but in service as exploration supply ships and as towboats for the early loggers. The Beaver visited here, probably for the first time, with the construction crew and supplies for building the ‘Howe Sound Trail’ (later ‘Pemberton Trail’) in 1875, and during the 1880s would visit occasionally to deliver oxen and supplies for the local logging camps. The Beaver was the first tugboat to serve Squamish Valley and Howe Sound loggers. She was famously wrecked off Prospect Point in 1888. The younger sister ship, the Otter, first visited earlier, in 1868 when it is reported she returned to Victoria with “about 200 tons” of coal from a “promising seam at Squamish.” (Geologists puzzle at this Victoria newspaper story, pointing out that Squamish is not a promising location for finding coal seams!) She was later hired to tow log booms from northern Howe Sound.

SS BEAVER CARRYING SUPPLIES AND OXEN FOR LOGGING CAMPS IN MARCH 20, 1888 // PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF VANCOUVER ARCHIVES A08353

Mining the Britannia Mine Museum Speaking of history... the Britannia Mine Museum launched its Terralab Learning Space this spring and introduced special educational programming for families and COVID-19 bubble groups as part of their year of STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art & Math) focus. The Museum isn’t running at full capacity during COVID, but plans to host special mini educational programming sessions throughout the year. The Terralab STEAM educational program will explore and learn about microorganisms in our freshwater ecosystems and how they can help us understand human impacts of heavy metals and mining. Benthic macroinvertebrates, or benthos, are microorganisms that live in streams, creeks, rivers and wetlands and are bioindicators that scientists use to monitor freshwater environments. Benthos range in their tolerance to pollution and can help us better understand the health of an aquatic environment. Here are some other interesting facts from the Britannia Mine Museum: • Seaweed from Britannia Beach was taken by researchers to the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon, where it was studied using a synchrotron, which is a technology the size of a football field that shines light millions of times brighter than the sun onto an object. In doing this to the seaweed, the researchers were able to map where in the plant different metals were found. This was being used as a way to look for more sustainable methods of mineral exploration. • In the early years of the mine, an aerial tramway carried ore from the top of the mountain to the mill at Britannia Beach, and was used in mines all around the world. Two companies that constructed these tramways were Riblet and Doppelmayr, the same companies that branched out to make ski lifts. • Ten years ago, researchers noticed salmon returning to Britannia Creek and began recording its numbers. It was the first time since the mine’s remediation program had begun, that fish were noted in the creek. Having been heavily polluted for decades, to see salmon in the creek again was a cause for celebration. A decade later in 2021, marine life at Britannia is continuing to show solid signs of improvement, including sights of whales, dolphins, crustaceans and sea life in Howe Sound.

PHOTO COURTESY BRITANNIA MINE MUSEUM Summer 2021 Discover Squamish | 9

Onwards and upwards

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER

Booking it in Squamish The Squamish Public Library has been the hub of our community since 1956. Located downtown, it is conveniently close to parks, shops and other important amenities. In honour of the library turning 65 this year, here are some little-known fun facts. *The library has been featured in a number of movies and TV shows over the years, most often as the setting for the Aurora Teagarden mystery series about a librarian (played by Candace Cameron Bure), but also in an episode of Supernatural that featured zombies! *The library has hosted several unexpected guests over the years, including many birds that fly in through an obscure opening in the ceiling (it took years to solve the mystery of how they were getting in), and even a garter snake. *The library is a key location to access and celebrate arts and culture in Squamish, housing the impressive Foyer Gallery in its lobby with rotating displays of works by Sea to Sky artists. *The library has over 120 board games and puzzles, over 260 video games and is home to Squamish Climate Action Network’s seed library. *The library offers mobile printing and mobile payment services, allowing patrons to send and pay for print jobs from their own electronic devices using the Princh app and the library’s free public WiFi. *The library brings in and sends back materials for our patrons from over 70 other B.C. public library systems and academic institutions. *The library has extra speedy and direct borrowing capabilities between the three Sea to Sky libraries — Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton — thanks to a shared library computer system and courier service.

10 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

If all goes according to plan, the Sea to Sky Gondola should be open as you read this after been shut in September of 2020, due to sabotage. At the time of this publication, the gondola was anticipating a late spring opening. The gondola is a local and tourist favourite, offering access to stunning views, walks and hikes high above Howe Sound. The attraction follows strict COVID-19 protocols: guests travel in a private gondola cabin with their “bubble.” Gondola cabins are wheelchair and stroller-accessible. Other activities include daily interpretive tours, music nights (as allowed ) and selfguided scavenger hunts for children on Alpine Alley, a family-friendly trail accessed from the Backyard Plaza. The Sea to Sky Gondola app provides access to a GPS-enabled trailmap including updated information about lookout points on popular walking trails and links to daily updates and conditions. After venturing out to the viewpoints and trails, hungry guests have various food and beverage options to choose from at the summit. Guests can browse and shop the new retail line that will showcase Squamish locals. .C A For details visit www.seatoskygondola. ET TY IM AGES AT ION S / G IC UN M com. M VI SUAL CO PHOTO BY

Final kiting summer at the Spit This summer marks the last for the Squamish Spit in its current form. The Spit has been a premier location for kiteboarders for years. The site’s optimal access to winds has led it to play host to the KiteClash Canadian National Championships each August. But the berm that juts out into Howe Sound, which was initially built as a road to a coal port that never materialized, has been an obstacle for chinook salmon. The fish’s numbers have plummeted since the Spit’s creation. The Central Estuary Restoration Project will see the Spit dismantled after this summer to help the chance of survival for chinook. The Squamish River Watershed Society leads the multi-agency and multi-year project in partnership with the Squamish Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. It has also involved many stakeholders, including Squamish Terminals, the District of Squamish, the provincial government, and other interested parties like the Squamish Windsports Society. Many windsports enthusiasts want to see the berm realigned, rather than removed without a replacement, however. Kiteboarders and their supporters continue to look for a way to create a berm that would jut out from Third Avenue so that kiteboarders can continue to access the best winds. Stay tuned. PHOTO BY NOEL HENDRICKSON / GETTYIMAGES.CA

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Squamish offers adventures for the whole family by

TAKING IN THE SQUAMISH VIEW // PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS 12 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

land, water & sky

PAT JOHNSON

Squamish has always been an outdoorsy person’s dreamscape but the last year has seen an unprecedented spike in locals taking to the land, water and sky. Folks who earn their living helping others enjoy the great outdoors have lost revenue from tourists, but are seeing huge increases in demand from locals. HANGING AROUND PHOTO COURTESY ROPE RUNNER

During the pandemic, if meeting up with others at all, the outdoors has been the best place to do it. Getting together with friends has still been possible with proper attention to distancing. Talaysay Tours, an Indigenous owned and operated company, has not only adapted their in-person programs for the times, they have even expanded their reach by creating virtual tours and programs that have attracted people from as far away as Asia and Europe. “The virtual tours have actually been very successful – more than we had ever imagined,” said Christine Elliott, manager of Talaysay. Owner and founder Candace Campo leads tours that are virtual — but live. A videographer trails Campo and the audience participates in real-time. Because a significant chunk of their clientele are school and university groups, that part of the business has continued throughout the pandemic. If students are together in a classroom, it is even safer to be together outdoors. Likewise, family groups or others in the same bubble can participate as usual. For other groups, distancing and smaller group tours have accommodated demand. Talaysay offers a range of tours and hikes. “The Talking Trees tour is about nature,” said Elliott. “The Spoken Treasures tour is historical. The Talking Totems is about art.” Kayaking tours are offered in the summer. Participants learn to see the world around them in a different way. For example, the significance of a common local tree to the culture and development of First Nations people is one small glimpse into the local Indigenous civilization. The cedar tree is known in some indigenous cultures as the “tree of

life,” Elliott said, because it played – and continues to play – an outsized role in the life and culture of the people. “That’s what they built canoes from, they stripped the bark and used it for clothing and for hats and the regalia that they use,” she said. “They even do that to this day.” Getting in touch with the land, sea and air, and doing it with the guidance of “cultural ambassadors” who are highly trained and educated in the First Nations’ history of the Howe Sound area is a way to combine the great outdoors with an enriching cultural experience. Of course, there are about a million other ways to explore the rocks, earth and sea in these parts. People who might have otherwise gone travelling took the opportunity in the past year to try activities locally, taking up new hobbies, reigniting old ones or just doing them more frequently. For Squamish Rock Guides, the loss of tourist clientele was a significant setback, though they did see an increase in local climbers. “It was the year to try rock climbing,” said the business’ owner, Colin Moorhead. “The Canadian market’s up a little bit but it certainly didn’t compensate for the loss.” He is hoping that this year will see the return of non-local climbers, who recognize Squamish for the mecca it is. “If you are an avid rock climber, Squamish is on the map,” said Moorhead. “It’s actually one of the best rock climbing areas in North America which, by default, makes it one of the best rock climbing areas in the world.” Back down at sea level — in fact, exactly at sea level — recreational activities have exploded. Daniel Grains, owner of Squamish

FUN FOR SQUAMISH KIDS

here’s no shortage of outdoor activities in Squamish for people of all ages. While Jean-Philippe Tondreau, general manager of Rope Runner Aerial Park, says his venue is great for people of all ages, it is especially ideal for kids six and up. “It is a great self-confidence activity,” said Tondreau. “You can push your limits mentally and physically because you’re playing at heights and all of our games have a good physical component in it so it’s a good workout. Kids are outside and are experiencing something really tangible instead of playing with game consoles are being on tablets and being inside. It’s very active. It’s mentally and physically challenging and people can build their selfconfidence and trust in themselves and what they can do.” The park, which opens each season May 1, is fully family-oriented, he added. “The adults are as challenged as the kids and even sometimes the other way around,” he said. “The adults have more challenging times than the kids because they can get scared. You get to go above your comfort zone and really go a bit further than what you’re used to do in your day-to-day life.” Where some outdoor activities in Squamish require equipment and costly apparatus, his venue is “turnkey,” said Tondreau. “You can just show up and play. You don’t require skills, experience or gear. You can have adrenaline, like many activities in Squamish, but without the expensive gear and the experience needed.” Summer 2021 Discover Squamish | 13

PHOTO BY CHAD GRAHAM / GETTYIMAGES.CA

KITEBOARDING FUN PHOTO BY NOEL HENDRICKSON/ GETTYIMAGES.CA

Watersports, notes that getting out on the water has been one of the safest activities during the pandemic. That has led to an increase in people taking up or returning to wakeboarding, kiteboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, and standup paddleboarding. “Last year was pretty much all locals,” he said. “While we did lose travelling tourism, those who would travel to enjoy themselves were enjoying themselves locally, which is a very important part of good economic sustainability. Hopefully, people continue to realize and support the businesses that have had some challenges through the last months.” Grains is focused on water activities, but says Squamish is a perfect storm of geography for all outdoor pursuits. “All the elements essentially come into one small triangle of wind, water and land,” he said. “You can just about do anything you can dream of in terms of an activity.” One thing that is growing in popularity is hydrofoil surfing. “Its roots have been around since the air chair in the ‘80s, but the concept of using a hydrofoil like an airplane wing under the water to create kind of a suspended lift above the water has been refined in the last handful of years to being more of a board sport experience rather than a sit chair,” he said. Kiteboarding, which has been around in Squamish for a couple of decades, is also growing. “The gear is becoming easier and more manageable to use,” said Grains, adding that safety has improved as well. “More older folks are getting into it. It’s one of those sports that, if you push yourself really aggressively, you can also explore the intense side of things, so the younger generations are getting into it as well.” Because of the equipment required, it used to be a sport dominated by middleaged folks with a bit of cash to burn. Since it’s been around awhile, used equipment makes getting in for the first time more accessible, he said. Grains reminds people that water sports’ entry costs are pretty much a one-off cost, unlike skiing, which requires annual or daily ski passes. “Kiteboarding can have an entry-level 14 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

start expense, like skiing, where you have to buy all your ski gear. But once you get going, it’s self-perpetuating, which is pretty nice,” Grains said, adding: “As long as there is wind, that is.” Another of town’s most popular pursuits is cycling, and this too has seen a major uptick in the past year. Bike shops have had challenges keeping stock on hand as customers are snapping them up, said Helen Beynon, executive director of Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA). How to ride a bike may be something one never forgets. But taking to the vast network of trails in the hills around Squamish is not something one should do unprepared, she said. “If you’ve never done it before, definitely hire a guide or a coach,” Beynon said. “The trails here can go from beginner to advanced very quickly and we’re known for very technical terrain. It’s some of the best in the world, but if you’ve never been out there, it’s best to get a little support to learn the skills properly and make sure that you’re staying safe.” This sport, too, can suit any budget. Mountain bikes can be costly, but Squamish has numerous options for renting them. An upsurge in popularity is really no reason for concern in terms of local trails accommodating more people, said Beynon. There’s plenty of room for everyone. “We’ve seen hugely increased numbers on the trails,” she said. “That’s not only bikers. There’s runners, there’s walkers, anyone who wants to get outside and be in nature because it’s so good for our health.” But, she said, “We’ve got tons of trails. There are some that are super-popular and everyone wants to go there, which is understandable. But there’s also hundreds of trails. If the one that you wanted to go to looks a bit busy, there’s so many other options in Squamish that you can go and check out.” On the trails, as in every sport and, frankly, life in general, respecting etiquette ensures reduced conflicts even in more popular venues. No matter how enthusiastically people take to the outdoors around here, you are almost always mere minutes away from a world of your own.

FUN FOR SQUAMISH DOGS

o you ever see one of those videos where a dog is on a surfboard with its person, and wondered, “Is that dog really enjoying itself?” Most dogs want to please their people, so they’ll go along to get along. But Maren Bruun, who runs Paw in Hand, suggests people be attuned to their dog’s sensitivities when choosing an outdoor adventure. There are nearly as many opportunities for outdoor fun for dogs in town as there are for people. Bruun suggests finding the ones that suit your pet’s personality. In Squamish “since before McDonald’s,” and spending those decades, as she puts it, “helping people and their dogs enjoy life together better,” Bruun has lots of ideas for entertaining Rufus or Peaches. “There’s so many different types of trails,” she said. “All different levels of trails for different people and dogs, whether you have a smaller pug-cross or a husky, there is something for everyone.” What Squamish does not have a lot of, she noted, are indoor options like agility training, or a plethora of spacious off-leash parks. Both of these may be a result of real estate costs. This is a dog town, with a large canine population, and the term “etiquette” pops up again and again in Bruun’s comments. On the street or on the trails, everyone can get along if everyone gets along. This goes not only for dog-human interactions but domestic-wild interactions as well. Humans should be conscious of keeping their dogs from coming into conflict with wildlife. That can be crucial not only for the wildlife, but for pet dogs, too. It’s a big world out there. Stay safe. For those who might be considering adding a furry family member, Bruun suggests finding one that suits your lifestyle. “Pick the right dog for your needs and then also ultimately for the dog’s needs,” she said. “Find a good match.”

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A global pandemic upended everything. But a local arts festival took the opportunity to go with the flow and reinvent itself for unprecedented times. This year, Squamish Wind Festival is taking what they learned last year and adapting again for a summer event that, like last year’s, demands flexibility and innovation.

PHOTO BY JODIJA COBSON GETTYIMAGES.CA

Squamish Wind Festival is a major community arts event produced by the Squamish Arts Council, intended to cultivate community spirit and accessibility to everyone. Amy Liebenberg, the arts council’s executive director, said planning for the annual July event usually begins in earnest around February and March — the precise time last year that the world was coming to terms with the magnitude of COVID-19. “We made the decision to go ahead with the festival and everything else would sort of have to fall in line and we would have to figure out how to do that,” she said. “We realized that there was going to be a lot of personal and community challenges, mentally, emotionally, financially. We started receiving government grants for the Wind Festival, and we realized that we had an opportunity to utilize the money to fund our local creative industry, if only we could figure out how.” They did.

A “hybrid” festival was created – one where virtual events occurred online while micro-events took place around town so that artists could perform, audiences could enjoy and everyone could remain physically distanced. For one thing, the usual three-day festival was stretched into a month of activities. By spreading events out, they could allow large numbers of people to participate, but in smaller groups. While other British Columbians were banging pots and pans at 7 p.m. to thank frontline workers, Squamish musicians were doing short, “pop-up” concerts around town for small, appreciative audiences. They called this “Amped in your Neighbourhood,” a pandemic version of the festival’s Amped in the Park program, where young, emerging artists perform concerts in Junction Park. Other in-person events proceeded, such as drive-in movies and a Squamish language learning course, as well as two

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SMALL EVENTS WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH AT WINDFEST 2020 // PHOTO COURTESY SQUAMISH WIND FESTIVAL

projects that involved both community engagement and lasting legacies for the community. “We did some live mural painting, which was super cool. That way there would be a long-lasting legacy of the 2020 Wind Festival,” she said. A “Welcome to Squamish” mural, designed to integrate First Nations representation, was created, and a second “street mural” in Brackendale, allowed the public to watch the artwork proceed while, ultimately, leaving a lasting reminder of this unforgettable year. Purely online programs included a virtual marketplace and some artists delivered workshops. Candace Campo, owner of Talaysay Tours, led a virtual forest walk through an Indigenous lens. One example of a hybrid live/virtual event was a fundraising concert at the top of the gondola. “We raised over $10,000 for the food bank and Helping Hands,” said Liebenberg. Live tickets were auctioned off, attendees adhered to protocols the festival developed with Vancouver Coastal Health, and the whole thing was livestreamed. Throughout the process, she said, the approach was to strengthen a mutually supportive artistic community. “Let’s all lean on each other,” she said. “Let’s have conversations about who is doing what, who needs what and let’s turn our festival into a major opportunity to collaborate.” Organizers checked in with a vast array of people about how they

PUBLIC ART COLOURED SQUAMISH AS PART OF WIND FEST 2020 // PHOTO COURTESY SQUAMISH WIND FESTIVAL

18 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

could be supported. “We did co-fundraisers with a lot of different groups and so, in many ways, we strengthened our community ties through the pandemic.” Among the silver linings was the opportunity to reimagine the entire concept of the festival. “I think we have a bigger idea now of what a festival could look like. A festival doesn’t necessarily mean thousands of people crammed into one small space,” said Liebenberg. “The festival has been totally reimagined now.” An event that had been largely limited to locals, maybe some visitors from Vancouver and a some scattered tourists took on a global reach. People from 10 countries participated. “The fact that we’re an international festival really, I think, put Squamish on the map in a bit of a different way, which was really cool,” she said. While they have that experience under their belt, the team is still being flexible on how this year’s iteration will unfold. The plan for 2021 is to meet in the middle and have a festival that is longer than the traditional three days, but not a full month. “We are going to do a hybrid of our hybrid,” Liebenberg said. “We’re not exactly sure what it’s going to look like yet but were thinking of a week’s worth of activities.” Find out more at squamishwindfestival.com.

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creating a summer haven in your own backyard

TOMATOES THRIVE IN A GREENHOUSE AT MAMQUAM EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD // PHOTO COURTESY SQUAMISH CAN

22 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

PAT JOHNSON

The past year has seen everyone spending more time at home. For some, this has induced cabin fever. For others, it has provoked ideas of renovations and making the most of the space we have.

SOLSCAPES WORK IN SQUAMISH // PHOTO BY SOLSCAPES

So enthusiastically have many Squamishers leaped on the home reno bandwagon that local suppliers – lumber yards, garden centres, home stores – are struggling to keep stocks filled. While protocols require limited indoor interactions – that can mean keeping a safe distance from interior contractors — landscape companies and others that work outdoors can operate safely with minimal alteration to regular procedures. “It’s been a really unique and interesting year,” said Stephanie Vigneux, co-owner with Jordie Bulpit of SOLscapes, an ecologically sustainable landscaping company in Squamish. “COVID really helped to reframe the context that people see and use their spaces in.” People who might have spent a few thousand dollars on vacations last year are investing that cash in upgrades closer to home. “We’ve had some interesting requests, I’d say more so in the last six months, with people looking to interact with their landscapes differently,” she said. One project the pair completed in Valleycliffe involved remodelling an existing mature landscape to create little steppingstone pathways to lead the kids to fairy gardens. From there, more steppingstones carry on to a vegetable patch and then to a little oasis to sip tea. “People get pretty creative if you give them a couple of primers,” Vigneux said. “Other ways I’m noticing that people are enhancing their spaces is by incorporating different structures.”

One family had unwieldy grapevines so SOLscapes incorporated a trellis system that not only cleaned up the appearance, but was better both for the health of the plants and for accessing the ripe fruit. Chicken coops are another structure that add interest. Squamish permits up to five laying hens (with a number of stipulations) and introducing a little farm life to the backyard can make a real statement – as well as daily fresh eggs and a fun educational experience for the whole family. Vigneux has a background that includes not only gardening and landscaping, but herbal medicine and education. So helping clients understand the science behind their landscaping choices is a natural for her. “I like to often focus my efforts on things like growing food because I appreciate the interactiveness of it,” she said. “Given the fact that we’re in front of our screens so much more or just more stationed at home, it’s nice to just get up and get your hands in the dirt.” A fun idea for kids and people of all ages is a pollinator garden that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. SOLscapes also works with hardscapers and experts in things like fire pits, outdoor pizza ovens, deck building and other construction projects. But making an impact on the yard need not cost a fortune or require intensive effort. “On a small scale, you could always incorporate hanging baskets, or baskets that hang over the railing, and put a couple

Summer 2021 Discover Squamish | 23

SMALL SPACE GARDENING

STEPHANIE VIGNEUX AND JORDIE BULPIT OWN SOLSCAPES // PHOTO COURTESY SOLSCAPES

of pollinator-friendly plants are flowers in there — just something to brighten up your space and living quality,” she said. The team consults with clients about who is using the property and for what purposes. If there is a dog in the home, does the family want space for throwing a ball or playing tug-of-war? On the one hand, it is ideal to create a designated pathway for dogs to do their rounds without making a muck-up of the lawn, but the materials for that pathway should take into account the effects on the paws. “Gravel, I think, is not necessarily friendly on dogs’ feet,” said Vigneux. “Steppingstones would be a nice option.” Most families probably have

SQUAMISH GARDENER GETS CREATIVE WITH CONTAINERS // PHOTO COURTESY SQUAMISH CAN

24 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

multiple uses for the backyard. Kids and dogs play, adults relax and entertain, families grow vegetables and flowers. Incorporating a strategy that accommodates the many uses is necessary for a harmonious outcome. If kids and pets are getting in the garden beds, raised beds or attractive fencing can be a solution. Creating a haven, an adventure land or a combination for all ages can involve small or major projects. A little effort can make a big impact and a major undertaking can create a serious wow factor. Vigneux stresses that any money invested in landscaping can have a double payoff. It can make every day a little brighter — and if relocating is in the cards, the impact on property values can make a big difference.

he population of Squamish is exploding – and many of the newcomers are first-time homeowners who are moving into townhomes and condos. Along with the other joys and challenges of homeownership can come a first-time dabbling in the art and science of gardening. A little creativity can turn a small outdoor space – a patio, balcony or even a sliver of underused land – into a productive and satisfying garden project. Squamish CAN, the Squamish Climate Action Network, has a lot of information on gardening and making the best use of available resources. Constance Wylie, the organization’s food policy council co-ordinator, points out the minimum requirements plants need: light, food and water. South-facing spaces are ideal, but any place that gets six hours of direct sunlight a day will work. Don’t skimp on cheap soil, she adds. This is the medium in which the plants will succeed or fail – choose quality organic soil. For food crops, some are obviously easier for the novice than others, but Wylie suggests taste should be the primary factor in deciding what to grow. “If you hate lettuce, it’s a waste of your time to grow lettuce, even if it’s easy,” she said. Leafy greens do well with our cooler weather and can often thrive with less light. They are also quick growing for the quick-gratification crowd. Summer crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and other squash want heat. Tomatoes, which can be heavenly fresh from the vine, can also be finicky. “A mistake I see a lot of people making in Squamish with tomatoes is planting them outside and too early,” said Wylie. “Tomatoes are going to be to best if they have protection from rain and they don’t like getting cold.” Herbs are also great, she said, and most are easy to grow. Common ones like rosemary, thyme and oregano are perennials that you can plant once and reap for years. Basil, parsley and cilantro are annuals. Squamish CAN offers gardening workshops and last year’s offerings were done virtually, so are available on the website (squamishcan.net). Squamish has an active and experienced community of gardeners and getting advice from locals is a great way to succeed, said Wylie. Not only is the climate in Squamish different from that of Vancouver, some things will grow differently in the Garibaldi Highlands, for example, than they do downtown due to temperature. Find out what works for neighbours and get your fingers in the soil.

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make your Squamish home How to

into a rental space

PAT JOHNSON

Getting into the housing market in the Sea to Sky Corridor can require some creativity. For many people, that means incorporating a “mortgage helper.” Doing it right — legally, safely and without creating more problems than it’s worth — requires professional help. Squamish does not permit short-term rentals of secondary suites or carriage houses on platforms such as Airbnb, although it is possible to rent out a room in a principal residence on a short-term basis, if District guidelines are followed. The tight housing market in town means that (comparatively) affordable secondary suites or other solutions are generally welcome. Construction and renovation experts have plenty of advice on avoiding pitfalls that could cost money – and peace of mind. Jason Zavitz, owner/partner of Alair Homes, says most of the people reaching out to him to discuss secondary suites have found a home they love but need an income boost to make it attainable. “Most people are saying, we can comfortably spend this much a month, so we need this much [additional] income,” he said. If one is already in discussion with a lender, tacking more on to a mortgage to fund a renovation is often very doable. An additional $75,000 on a mortgage might cost a few hundred dollars a month, but the revenue the suite could generate might be several times that amount. There are advantages, of course, 26 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

as well as disadvantages. Income generation is nice, but suddenly you might be living near strangers. Even if they are the finest people, that is a relationship that goes along with the deal. Maybe it’s family moving in downstairs. That could mean built-in babysitters in the form of grandparents or an aunt and uncle. But even the best families come with baggage. Speaking of baggage, a big thing that people dreaming of a suite might gloss over is “stuff.” Another family on the property means another car, or more likely two. But this is Squamish, so where do the extra family’s four bikes, two kayaks and assorted ski equipment live? No matter who the tenants are, good neighbourly relations require upgrading to the soundproofing in the home. Above all, that most crucial element of real estate — location, location, location — matters in secondary suites as it does in everything property-related. The neighbourhood of Squamish you are in is a significant determinant of how — and whether — you can add a suite. Parts of Squamish, including downtown, are at or below the flood

control grade, which pretty much makes a basement suite out of the question. At higher elevations, basement suites are viable. Once you’ve determined a suite is allowable, and that it’s an accommodation you really want, the technical questions arise. There are a lot of factors that the average homeowner, especially first-time buyers, might not have considered. “You have to make sure there’s a fire separation between the two living spaces,” Zavitz said. “That’s something that is often overlooked by potential clients because they are thinking, all we have to do is put a kitchen in here and we are done. But we’ve got to get fire-rated doors and it requires an added layer of drywall on the ceiling, that kind of stuff — unforeseen costs that any layman wouldn’t really think about.” Flexibility is something else to consider. A family with toddlers now might be happy to live upstairs, but in a decade or so, when cute tots turn into brooding teens, can the downstairs be easily reintegrated into the main house to give everyone more room? Bottom line: How much does it cost? Zavitz responds with a riddle: “What is the cost of a bag of groceries?” A bag of groceries

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MILLENIA SIMPLE RENO BY WOODRIDGE CONSTRUCTION // PHOTO COURTESY WOODRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

could be $6 or $160. Likewise, the cost of constructing a secondary suite depends on size, existing infrastructure, location of services, quality of components and a dizzying array of factors. “No two suites cost the same,” he said. Ryan Mcloughlin, owner and manager of Woodridge Construction, shares many of Zavitz’s concerns and raises a few additional considerations. If the house is more than a couple of decades old, asbestos removal could be a hidden cost — and a big one. Start poking around the insides of a 40-year-old home and you never know what you might find. Mcloughlin knows of one instance where asbestos remediation set the owner back $30,000. For those who live in the flood risk areas where basements suites are out of the question, a possible solution is a carriage home. The District permits a carriage home of up to 70 square metres (around 700 square feet), as well as a garage of commensurate size underneath. Not only does this ease the possible tensions caused by noisy neighbours and the loss of the homeowner’s basement, it can provide that extra garage space

for canoes and jet-skis. “The big-ticket with carriage homes is getting the services there, the groundwork,” said Mcloughlin. “The District only allows you to have one tie-in for your sanitary. You can’t have two connections.” The utilities for the carriage home have to be connected to the existing systems — or a new system has to be installed and the existing house connected to it. Either way: Ka-ching. Whether for a basement suite or a carriage home, Mcloughlin is also emphatic that homeowners should engage an interior designer. “They are educated and their job is to provide the best possible layout with the space that’s available,” he said. “I can advise so much, but a designer can maximize space and has lots of tips and tricks to keep the client happy. The same goes with moving through the construction process – picking materials, keeping up with what’s current, selecting materials that are going to reflect the budget. Homeowners that have full-time jobs, that’s a huge challenge and workload for them.” Intimidating? Possibly. Worth it? Maybe. A job best undertaken by professionals? Unquestionably.

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Summer 2021 Discover Squamish | 27

Going green

Two companies with global aspirations to better the planet set up shop in Squamish

PAT JOHNSON

Squamish is a community built on resource extraction — and while natural resources remain an important part of the local and regional economy, Squamish is noted as home to a growing number of green technology innovators. This reputation is growing significantly as new and expanding businesses set up shop here.

CARBON ENGINEERING’S WORKING PILOT PLANT // PHOTO COURTESY OF CARBON ENGINEERING 28 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

Buildings and construction are the world’s leading source of climate pollution and Nexii Building Solutions has a plan to reduce that impact and save builders and consumers money at the same time. The company advertises that it builds “for speed and strength,” creating new buildings and retrofitting existing ones with building components, like pre-finished panels, that are manufactured in a company plant and then assembled onsite, reducing build times and construction costs. In addition to reducing environmental impacts during the construction phase, Nexii’s buildings are also marketed as airtight and energy-efficient, highly resistant to water, mould, mildew, and insects, and resilient in natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Based in Vancouver, Nexii is about to open a 90,000-square-foot Squamish plant that will have the capacity to produce more than three million square feet of green building products annually. They expect to be hiring 150 local workers.

“Squamish is a hub for cleantech companies and Nexii is excited to join this community of forward-thinking businesses,” said Nancy Maribel, marketing director at Nexii. “Its close proximity to Vancouver and the West Coast of the United States means we are uniquely positioned to increase our supply of Nexii green construction products to this region, meeting the escalating customer demands in this market.” A great location and good logistics mean Squamish is more than just a pretty face. But Nexii and other businesses acknowledge that the pretty face of the town is an added bonus. “We’re excited to work in Squamish because of what it represents,” said Maribel. “Squamish is an area of great natural beauty, and having a plant in this beautiful location surrounded by nature constantly reminds us of what we are working to protect — our planet and the people within it.” Another company acknowledges that locating in Squamish is both practical and symbolic. Carbon Engineering Limited (CE) develops Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology

to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unlike more conventional strategies that capture emissions from industrial flue stacks, preventing the substances from entering the atmosphere in the first place, CE’s DAC technology captures CO2 directly from the air, targeting the large quantities of carbon dioxide already emitted and trapped in the atmosphere. “We first began operations in Squamish with our pilot facility in 2015,” said Steve Oldham, Carbon Engineering’s CEO. “Today, we have more than 100 employees working full-time in the town and are constructing our permanent global headquarters and Innovation Centre in the District’s upcoming Oceanfront development. We couldn’t be happier to call Squamish home and look forward to continuing our expansion here and to supporting the development of B.C.’s burgeoning low-carbon industry.”

The company’s goal is to license its technology globally, which the company says will allow any country or company to capture megatons of CO2 from the atmosphere. “As a quickly growing clean energy company, it made perfect sense for Carbon Engineering to be based in the Vancouver Lower Mainland — a hub for green businesses and the green economy,” said Oldham. “More specifically, Squamish has proven to be the ideal location for scaling our business as it offers great infrastructure, proximity to downtown Vancouver, and an excellent quality of life for attracting talented employees. Being located in such a beautiful part of the world is also a constant reminder to our staff of what we’re working so hard to protect.”

[TOP] NEXII ASSEMBLY PROCESS // PHOTO COURTESY OF NEXII BUILDING SOLUTIONS

Summer 2021 Discover Squamish | 29

Strong independent sips

— Squamish’s coffee culture

30 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

PAT JOHNSON

A town that pulsates with adventure, activity and vibrancy can’t live on adrenaline alone. Caffeine helps. “We’re just such an active community up here, whether it’s biking 20 kilometres or running off to go kiteboarding or operating your own small business, I find that everybody just has so much going on,” said Grace Dwight, general manager of Cloudburst Café. “There is no rest. I find that everyone relies on that coffee habit to get them through all of these amazing activities that they love.” One of the things that makes Cloudburst’s space especially appealing, she added, is simple: “We just have a lot of it.” The large venue, with long tables, allows customers to feel comfortable staying for longer periods than they would in a smaller place where demand for turnover is greater. “People just have the ability to stay here longer and work from home essentially,” she said. The location doesn’t hurt, either, she adds. “We are central to a lot of the bike trails or on your drive up to Whistler,” said Dwight. “We are lucky to be here right in the action. People find it a great meeting spot.” Across town at Sunflower Bakery and Café, co-owners Jamie Brandon (manager) and Ryan Newton (chef/baker) push caffeine and carbs. “Our whole focus is just really nice coffees with a pastry really,” Brandon said. The bakery has been around 25 years and the new team took over in October 2019, just six

months before the pandemic changed everything. They pivoted on a dime. “When COVID hit, we switched from a café to a quick-serve,” he said. “We just learned how to adapt quickly and be very fast and have everything prepared to go instead of made to order.” As things slowly return to normal, Brandon and Newton hope to get back into a more usual vibe. “What makes us different from the other places is hopefully the whole experience, the energy, the fun and the passion behind the food and the coffee,” he said. “You’ve got two local families who took over a bakery that we really love and we love to make coffees and really good food.” If Squamishers as a species take their joe seriously, Tim Knutton takes it to another level. With wife and business partner Emily Lehnen, he started roasting coffee as a hobby but almost instantly the pair threw themselves into it as a career. Their place — Counterpart Coffee — has a small café in front and a coffee roasting operation behind in an otherwise nondescript industrial park on Discovery Way. “We source raw coffee, green coffee,” Knutton said. Dealing with brokers, they import from around the world but strive to build relationships with particular farmers, because they know that the vagaries of climate, weather and political conditions can make coffee

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“We really have a fascinating array and spectrum of small, independent places in town. There is lots to choose from, at all ends of the town.” TIM KNUTTON, FOUNDER, COUNTERPART COFFEE

[ABOVE] COUNTERPART COFFEE // PHOTO

COURTESY OF COUNTERPART COFFEE

32 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

farming an uncertain undertaking. They already provide their locally roasted product to cafes in Squamish and beyond, but when COVID hit, they started delivering to homes. Knutton realized this was a service people appreciated pandemic or no. A subscription service lets customers anywhere brew Counterpart’s beans. Is coffee roasting an art or a science? “It’s a bit of both,” he said. “For a given coffee, we need to be able to produce a particular profile for that coffee, so it needs to get heated up in a very specific way, with fairly tight controls and we need to be able to reproduce that week after week with a certain amount of consistency. We use an app that runs on a big iPad and we are able to control the temperature so we produce a consistent product week after week. If you are buying a particular coffee of ours, it should be the same whether you buy it this week or next month or whenever.” Wind Knutton up and he can riff about the history and sociological trends around coffee — many small towns in Wales, he’ll tell you, have for decades been home to superb espresso and cappuccino joints, a result of Italian prisoners of war who were released from an Allied camp in 1945 and hung around — but is all this fancy mud just a fad? “To begin with, there are always more people starting to drink coffee than stopping,” he said. But while Knutton seems reticent, he

gives credit where due. “For all of the derision, sometimes justified, that Starbucks gets, one thing they did do was bring all those kinds of terms into the common vocabulary,” he said. “Thirty years ago, those terms weren’t all that well known. Now they are household words. Companies like Starbucks have done a lot of our marketing for us, whether we like it or not. They’ve created this sector of the industry.” For a town the size of Squamish, said Knutton, we’ve got an unusually vibrant independent coffee scene. In addition to the association of coffee with many of the outdoor pursuits at which Squamish folks excel, there is also a large contingent of conscientious consumers. “One of the things I think about a lot is, by the time the average person is sipping their coffee, that product is at least 90% non-local,” he said. “It’s a very global commodity. It’s grown elsewhere, it’s shipped here and, I think, one of the things that people can do to try to increase the locality of it is by drinking locally roasted coffee, fresh roasted coffee, or coffee from small independent cafés. We really have a fascinating array and spectrum of small, independent places in town. There is lots to choose from, at all ends of the town. I generally encourage people to find small independent suppliers of good quality coffee.”

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Summer 2021 Discover Squamish | 33

TAKA RAMEN + SUSHI // PHOTO COURTESY OF TAKA RAMEN + SUSHI

Opening a new eatery is a challenge at the best of times. Pulling it off successfully in the midst of a once-in-a-century global pandemic, well, that is a hat trick sort of thing. A few brave characters have added to the Squamish food scene in the past year, bringing decades of combined experience and some fresh ideas to kitchens around town. Not one but two new Indian venues have opened their doors in recent months. Indian Masala Express and Fine Dining, on Commercial Way, defines itself as an “elite Indian fine dining restaurant.” Geographically covering “all your favourite northern Indian recipes, highlights from the southern Indian style of cooking, and the latest from the exciting fusion style of modern Mumbai,” the room also does something not all consumers might associate with this cuisine — carefully pairing dishes with appropriate wine varieties. Snacking on lighter appetizers? The team might recommend a Sauvignon Blanc. Spicier dishes might demand a bolder, aromatic wine. Indian Spice Cuisine, on Cleveland Avenue, offers a very extensive menu with a broad diversity of options for the vegetarian palate. A familiar hand at sushi is also back in town. Chef David Yuji Kite and partner in life and business Maki Kite sold Sushi Sen in 2019 when David was nearing exhaustion from the long hours on his feet preparing sushi. After resting, and perfecting the art of ramen in Hokkaido, the pair returned to Squamish with their three teenagers to open the new Taka Ramen + Sushi. The restaurant had its soft opening in February and is expanding the menu gradually, said Maki Kite, front-of-house manager. “It’s very hard to make a good broth,” she said. “That’s why [David] went to Hokkaido and he got training and learned more about ramen. I realize there are many, many Japanese restaurants in the Vancouver area, this area too, and also Whistler. But we

New eateries popping up PAT JOHNSON

in Squamish, yes even during this pandemic year

would like to provide a really authentic style.” “We started only with take-out.” But appreciating the soup at its peak really demands experiencing it fresh from the kitchen, she said. In-room dining with appropriate protocols are in place and she is excited to welcome new and familiar clientele. Another husband-and-wife operation has also recently taken shape in the form of a food truck called Flipside Burgers. Located adjacent to Cliffside Cider, the food truck and the cider house have a symbiotic relationship. There’s a sweet patio for nice days, but for those infrequent inclement Squamish days or for those who just want to eat indoors, you are welcome to carry your food into Cliffside as long as you order a drink. “It’s slightly less risk than having a brick-and-mortar,” said James Oldenburger, who opened the business with wife Lena. (“Burger is in our name!” the website declares.) He has been working in restaurants for years — in Ontario, Whistler, Cambodia and New Zealand — but has settled into Squamish with a menu that aims to provide the comfort of a burger with a light freshness that lets customers get back to their active lifestyles after a meal. We just wanted to keep it fresh and keep it real and healthy the most I can,” he said. In addition to the regular menu, every week offers up a special. A recent offering was the Onion Crunch, which Oldenburger describes as “a nice organic beef patty, throw some aged Cheddar on there as well with a couple of slices of nice local bacon and four crispy onion rings with a nice peppercorn aioli.” It flew off the shelf, he reported. Though take-out during the pandemic “keeps the doors open,” he said, the economics he is concerned with are not just his own. “COVID hurts a lot of people,” he said. “People can still have a $12 or $11 burger. That helps people out as well and keeps us going too.” Demand for good food never abates, but opening a restaurant at any time is an act of faith. Feeding a hungry community is a labour of love for restaurateurs — a supportive community will ensure success.

[LEFT] FLIPSIDE BURGER // PHOTO COURTESY OF FLIPSIDE BURGERS

34 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

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Howe Sound

Shannon Falls

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Britannia Mine Museum 10 minutes South in Britannia Beach

R ADVENTURE

MISH

DISCOVER Squamish

the ocean meets the mountains in Sea to Sky country. It is the home of incomparable outdoor recreation and unforgettable West Coast culture. hiking, mountain climbing, kitesurfing, sailing. Home of the famous Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival, the epic Sea to Sky Gondola, so much more! Squamish has a unique arts & culture community and an unsurpassed variety of places to shop, dine & relax.

i Estates

Cn Railway

business park

CN Railway

Olsen

Progress Way

Way

Enterprise

St Magee

Eaglewind Blvd mb

Cleveland Ave

Loggers Ln

Washrooms

U Siyam Pavilion

Farmers’ 9 Market

29 34 32

Cleveland Ave

Loggers Ln

ton Ave

Channel

Hunter

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Howe Sound Secondary School

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TAKA RAMEN + SUSHI

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Chieftain Centre Mall

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Winnipeg

Victoria

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Main

2nd

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Municipal r 18 Hall 10 ry Library

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Wilson C res

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surfing

4th

Rock

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Ave

To Whistler

Brennan Park Sports Fields

5th

Castle

Brennan Park 29 Recreation centre

Access

St Victoria V

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Ave

Finch Dr

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6th

Discovery Way

To Vancouver

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Squamish Elementary School Squamish Station Shopping Centre

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Tantalus Pl

Newport Ridge Dr.

Wenda Pl

Starview

Black Tusk

Sunrise Pl

Squamish Business Park

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Midway

Tantalus Rd.

Tantalus Way 13 8

Queens

Clark Rd

Pioneer Way

Production Way

17 Cheakamus Way

Diamond Rd

CNR Depot

Commercial Way

Enterprise Pl

Industrial Way

Highlands Mall

Garibaldi Way

Garibaldi Village Mall

CAR MAINTENANCE & REPAIR

DIAMOND HEAD MOTORS

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To Sky Highway Sea To

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Government Rd

Harris

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West Coast Railway Heritage Park

North Yards

Aspen Rd

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SQUAMISH

Emergency: 911 RCMP: 604-892-6100 Squamish Municipal Hall: 604-892-5217 Squamish General Hospital: 604-892-5211 Dog Pound: 604-815-6866

Please visit the businesses below for friendly Sea to Sky customer service, and a bit of what makes Squamish one of the best places to be in BC! Whether you live or play here, you will experience what makes Squamish so special! ATTRACTIONS 1

Diamond Head Motors 1008 Industrial Way 604-892-3365

Triton Automotive and Industrial/Napa 1003 Industrial Way 1-800-790-6434 tritonautoindustrial.com

BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES 4

CAFÈS & RESTAURANTS 5

Panago Pizza 15-1347 Pemberton Avenue 250-310-0001 panago.com

Pepe Chophouse & Seafood 40359 Tantalus Way 604-898-3606 pepeandgringo.net

The Copper Coil Still & Grill 37996 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-0646 thecoppercoil.com

10 The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar 37991 Second Avenue 604-390-1910 saltedvine.ca

Subway 104-40147 Glenalder Place 604-898-8393 subway.com

Subway 7D-1321 Pemberton Avenue 604-567-2011 subway.com

Sushi Sen Japanese Restaurant

The Local Leaf Cannabis 11-40437 Tantalus Road 604-898-1051 tllcannabis.com

DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH 18

Municipal Hall 37955 Second Avenue 604-892-5217 squamish.ca

GROCERY 19

Nesters Market 1200 Hunter Place 604-815-0733 nestersmarket.com 1301 Pemberton Avenue 604-892-5976 saveonfoods.com/store/squamish/

Mountain Retreat Hotel & Suites 38922 Progress Way 604-815-0883 squamishmountainretreathotel.com

MORTGAGE 22 The Mortgage Studio 38155 Second Avenue 604-892-4647 micheleellis.com

38052 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-6369 annasinteriors.ca

30 Canadian Tire

1851 Mamquam Road 604-898-2227 canadiantire.ca

33 Garibaldi Village II

40204-40282 Glenalder Place garibaldivillage.com

34 Hearth and Mantel

38066 Cleveland Avenue 604-815-0191 Instagram: @hearthandmantel

35 Home Hardware

610-1200 Hunter Place 604-892-3711 homehardware.ca/store/51726

36 Joe’s Fireplace Products 38136 Second Avenue 604-892-9800 Seatoskyfireplace.com

37 Marks

40270 Glenalder Place 604-892-5855 marks.com

38 Precision Optical

1362 Pemberton Avenue 604-892-5615 precisionoptical.ca

SCHOOL INFORMATION 39 School District 48

School Board Office 37866 Second Avenue 604-892-5228 sd48seatosky.org

REAL ESTATE 24 RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate 38261 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-3571 remax-squamish.com

25 Royal LePage Black Tusk Realty 3-1900 Garibaldi Way 604-898-5904 blacktuskrealty.com

26 Stilhavn Real Estate Services 1396 Main Street 778-266-0150 stilhavn.com

RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT 27 Brennan Park Recreation Centre 1009 Centennial Way 604-898-3604 squamish.ca

1339 Pemberton Avenue Squamish

38066 Cleveland Avenue 604-848-6222 Instagram/Facebook: @empireofdirt

23 Euphoria Natural Health 106-40147 Glenalder Place 604-390-4455 euphorianaturalhealth.com

Chieftain Centre Mall

32 Empire of Dirt

NATUROPATHIC CLINIC

Taka Ramen + Sushi

38 | Discover Squamish Summer 2021

RETAIL 29 Anna’s Interiors

HOTELS

40382 Tantalus Road 604-898-8235 sushisen.ca 38065 Cleveland Avenue 604-390-0077 takaramensushi.com

1201 Village Green Way 604-848-6898 squamishseniorscentre.com

20 Save-On-Foods

Joe Pesto’s 38165 Second Avenue 604-390-0044 joepestos.com

2Chill Squamish Gelato Spot 38084 Cleveland Avenue 604-567-2665 2chillgelato.com

CANNABIS RETAILERS

Backcountry Brewing 405-1201 Commercial Way 604-567-2739 backcountrybrewing.com

Zephyr Café 38078 Cleveland Avenue 604-567-4568 zephyrcafe.ca

AUTOMOTIVE 2

28 The 55 Activity Centre

41101 Government Road 604-898-6665 thewatershedgrill.com

Britannia Mine Museum Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) 1-800-896-4044 britanniaminemuseum.ca

The Watershed Grill

VISITOR SERVICES 40 Squamish Public Library 37907 Second Avenue 604-892-3110 squamish.bc.libraries.coop

Tourism Squamish

102-38551 Loggers Lane 604-815-4994 1-877-815-5084 exploresquamish.com #exploresquamish

YOGA 42 Yoga Love & Meditation Boutique 38134 Cleveland Avenue 604-898-8889 yogalovemeditation.ca

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Discover Squamish Summer 2021

Articles inside

Strong independent sips — Squamish’s coffee culture

Squamish’s Wind Festival keeps going with gusto

How to make your Squamish

Single Tracks: Lights, Camera, Action, and more fun facts

Welcome to the summer 2021 version of Discover Squamish

Squamish offers adventures for the whole family by land, water