Quintessential Squamish
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What is the Squamish look?
JENNIFER THUNCHER AND WRITER WILL JOHNSON
It’s kind of hard to define.
It’s subtle, the Squamish look. It’s not as well known as Vancouver or Whistler’s, but still a distinct aesthetic all its own. It’s a collision of opposing forces, like the thunderous moment the surf meets the shore. It’s the jagged juxtaposition between our hardscrabble history and our ever-expanding future.
It’s a lonely kiteboarder floating over a roiling bluegreen sea.
When you walk around Squamish, you can breathe in the history. It’s all around you, the same looming ridgelines that oversaw the first logger sports games, the same sea stones rattling back and forth in the waves. Squamish was a tough place, full of tough people, but it was also flooded with dreamers, artists and community builders. All of them stamped their unique personalities onto the landscape, conjuring this little Sea to Sky town up from nothing.
In this issue of Discover, reporter Will Johnson investigates the many facets of the Squamish look. Sometimes, it’s as simple as having chalk prints on your pants from climbing the Stawamus Chief, and other times it’s as complex as mounting a complete makeover of your entire house with a design team. We have a story on Squamish drinks, an exploration of its unique nightlife, a piece about how locals love their skin, and even insights into the area’s spiritual practices and exercise habits.
Delve beyond the superficial, and join us as we explore what the Squamish look says about who we are.
We invite you to discover what makes us quintessentially Squamish in these pages.
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Fresh Tracks
SOME QUIRKY ASPECTS OF TOWN THAT MAKE US UNIQUELY SQUAMISH
Go underground at the Britannia Mine Museum
Have you ever driven past the curious, tiered building nestled into the mountainside at Britannia Beach and wondered what’s inside?
Spoiler alert: it’s pretty cool.
The Britannia Mine Museum has been around since 1975, but after a $14.7-million facelift in 2010, it became a must-see tourist destination in the Sea to Sky Corridor—all year round.
An entry ticket will get you access to an underground train ride, where you don a hard hat and hop into a train car for a glimpse into the worksite of a 1914 miner; gold panning, in which you can get your hands wet and try your luck at finding gold and gemstones; and the Terra Lab exhibit that dives into the site’s environmental remediation work.
You can also explore a restored heritage building and check out the mineral gallery, which boasts a gleaming variety of gold and fluorescent minerals.
But one of the show-stopping highlights of your tour is the award-winning BOOM! attraction.
With lights, sounds, and special effects, the relatively new exhibit is tucked into that aforementioned eye-catching building you spot driving down the Sea to Sky Highway—otherwise known as Mill No. 3.
Take a seat in the building’s theatre and watch multiple screens, 30 speakers and special effects bring the whopping 20-storey building to life.
As a bonus, you can also check out a special exhibit, Ore and Orcas, until February 2025.
“Explore how copper contamination impacted the marine food chain from plankton to predators, and learn how remediation efforts now protect this ecosystem,” reads the museum’s website. “This unique display includes specimens from the Howe Sound ecosystem, including a real killer whale skeleton!”
BOOM! at Britannia Mine Museum.
Photo courtesy of Britannia Mine Museum
Head up the mountain
If you’re looking to see as much of Squamish as possible in a short amount of time, there’s only one place to go: up.
While the Sea to Sky Gondola might seem like the domain of a sunny summer day, there’s actually just as much activity on the mountain in the winter.
First, the obvious. The stunning trip over snowcapped peaks is well worth the price of admission on its own. Toss in a cozy hot chocolate nestled in the Summit Lodge and you’ll have a lovely afternoon under your belt.
For those who like to venture out a little further, the gondola’s terrain features 2.2 kilometres of Nordic skiing on its backcountry access road “groomed every day and [offering] unparalleled views of the snow-capped Sky Pilot and its neighbouring peaks,” according to its website.
Looking for more adrenaline? That same road opens up a world of backcountry skiing and splitboarding. Although, be forewarned (or stoked), the terrain is not for beginners—and you should have proper gear and training.
“This terrain is complex in nature with many steep alpine bowls, first-growth forests, pillow lines and extreme couloirs,” according to the gondola website.
(In an effort to support the busy Squamish Search and Rescue, the gondola also won’t upload skis and boards when the Avalanche Canada rating is “high” or “extreme.”)
Of course, there are also plenty of options for a peaceful winter stroll on the inbound trails (in other words, where you don’t have to worry about avalanches). The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, Summit Lodge Viewing Deck, and Spirit Trail are all cleared of snow for walking, but crampons and poles are still recommended.
A new option for the cold, crisp months: the Squamish Via Ferrata is offering tours during the winter. Climbers are clipped into a safety cable and use rungs to traverse a catwalk, bridges, and granite slab.
“It’s a thrilling adventure, and no experience is needed,” the website says. “It is one of the best activities to do in Squamish.”
A window into Pearl’s
At Pearl’s Value and Vintage, they have a saying: “Pearl’s provides.”
While that might mostly apply to the donations that come into the popular store, it’s also true for their window displays.
“The right items for our displays [shows] up at the right time,” said Valerie Nagy.
The display has been a feature of the shop since 2013, but team members really started rolling up their creative sleeves around 2020. “We have a lot of talented, creative folks on our team, so we take turns each month with different people being in charge of the theme and putting it together,” Nagy said. “It’s a lot of fun and we put a lot of volunteer hours to make the display really special.”
The massive vintage store—which has everything from shoes to toys to houseware—is a non-profit social enterprise where all of the proceeds go towards supporting programs and services at PearlSpace.
But even if you’ve never stepped foot inside, chances are you’ve wandered down Cleveland Avenue and peeked at the elaborate display. In spring, there might be pops of colour and floral based around a cute dress. Last summer, the theme was camping, complete with lush greenery and a (stuffed) roaring fire.
Staff often hears from delighted customers.
“We love hearing how much people are enjoying the displays for all different reasons, whether they just appreciate the aesthetics or are engaging personally with the theme,” Nagy said. “Our windows have been a great way to reach out to the community at large. Sometimes, we use them as an advocacy tool to create awareness on behalf of our organization, PearlSpace Support Services, and other times we just want to create something positive and engaging for the community to look at.”
Sea to Sky Gondola. Photo by Bruce Martin
Pearl's Value and Vintage.
Photo by Valerie Nagy
Squamish dancers take centre stage
When Dayna Goldman opened the doors for the Sea to Sky Dance Collective’s first class back in November 2019, she was surprised to see nearly 20 people at the door.
“I was truly blown away by the talent in the room,” Goldman, director of the collective, said. “I didn’t expect there to be so many people craving this creative outlet in a town full of climbers, mountain bikers and skiers, but I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has attended drop-in classes or has been a part of our performance group over the years.”
The collective is a non-profit group of adult contemporary dancers who perform in the community throughout the year. The dancers’ biographies on the group’s website show a running theme: members grew up dancing for years—many with impressive resumes—but pursued other professional avenues and somehow wound up in this mountain town.
“We’ve created and performed three successful benefit productions … in which we managed to donate over $20,000 to local charitable organizations,” Goldman added. “We’ve also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of community events, such as the Squamish Arts Festival, Squamish Together, and Squamish Has Talent.”
On top of the core group of performers, the organization offers one-hour drop-in classes—in partnership with the Squamish Dance Centre—for both beginners and more advanced dancers. “I’m proud of the inclusive space we have
created through these community drop-in classes. It’s a balancing act to meet the needs of everyone in the room, which is why most dance studios offer levelled dance classes; however, we keep the energy light, welcoming, and positive, and our more advanced dancers encourage and support the beginners throughout the class by answering questions or breaking down movements slowly and repeatedly.”
Sound appealing? They’re always looking for more members. “We encourage anyone interested to start by attending some of our drop-in classes and to chat to me.”
Snowmobiling in the backcountry.
by AscentXmedia, gettyimages.ca
Photo
Squamish dancers.
Photo by Brian Aikens
Roll up your sleeves at Create Makerspace
What’s the hottest commodity in Squamish? Space.
Whether it’s rental space, business space, or a space to pursue your craft, in this beautiful town, it’s not going to come cheap.
That’s where the Create Makerspace comes in. The new business (which has a non-profit arm) offers “a well-equipped, accessible, inclusive community hub” that aims to support artisans with businesses, but also hobbyists, by offering both tools and space needed. Their industrial park location offers a woodworking space, a metal workshop, and textiles studio.
On top of that, if you’re in the market to learn more about those crafts, you’re in the right place, with a variety of classes running each month. (Pottery will be a future offering as well.)
Open Tuesdays to Sunday from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m., the cost is $150 per month (or $75 for the textile-only studio), $220 a month for extended hours, or a $250 drop-in punch pass for five visits or $400 for 10 (with no expiry date).
With nomadic living on the rise, Makerspace has proven to be the perfect place to renovate a van, for example.
“I think it took some time for people to discover that we were here and to learn and understand what a Makerspace is … but once they realized we’ve got a parking lot, all the wood tools and textiles tools to make other van features, they’ve
really started to come in,” founder of Create Makerspace, Oscar Radevsky told The Squamish Chief. “A lot of people who are converting vans end up parking in like a rainy, muddy side street and then working with crappy tools that they bought at a garage sale.
So having a dedicated space where you can actually have a parking spot and walk into and out of your van without getting rained on is really handy.”
Take a ride
With all the rain that comes with a Squamish winter, you’d be excused for not knowing that it’s actually pretty close to some stunning snowmobile terrain.
To find one of the most prominent sled spots, look up from just about anywhere in town and find the dramatic-looking ridge leading to Mount Garibaldi (Nch'_kay ' in the Squamish Nation language).
Brohm Ridge offers a variety of terrain for all levels, from bountiful powder to groomed trails. Accessing it means purchasing a day or trail pass from Black Tusk Snowmobile Club, a non-profit organization that grooms terrain and runs two buildings (a chalet and clubhouse) that are settled into the trees on the ridge. (The chalet books for private events.)
Some other snowmobile hot spots include Tricouni Ridge and, a little further down
the highway towards Whistler, Brandywine Meadows.
Of course, for visitors to Squamish, this activity requires a little more preparation than hopping on a sled and carving your way through the powder.
Backcountry users need to know how to assess and safely travel through avalanche terrain. That means carrying a beacon, probe, shovel and map—and knowing how to use them. Taking an Avalanche Skills Training course is the best way to do that—and Black Tusk Snowmobile Club offers both AST 1 and 2 courses at their Alpine Learning Centre.
“Remember that when venturing into remote areas, a small injury can turn into an epic rescue,” Tourism Squamish says on their website. “There is wildlife and inherent risk, so please be mindful of your surroundings.”
Folks sewing at Create Makerspace.
Photo courtesy of Create Makerspace
Photo courtesy of Ground Up Climbing Centre. Ground Up Climbing Centre also runs outdoor camps.
Call it Squamish chic
WILL JOHNSON
There’s a unique West Coast look for outdoor apparel in the Sea to Sky. What’s the difference between following a trend and creating one?
In Squamish, you get the same cultural currents sweeping into town, bringing the fashion sensibilities of Vancouver, Toronto and L.A. But the Sea to Sky population is notoriously practical, favouring utility over aesthetics. As financial and housing pressures continue to mount, customers are looking for multipurpose pieces that will last in the long term.
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Squamish residents often have a streamlined approach to acquiring the clothes they need, according to Ski/Run Uphill owner Joel Desgreniers.
“With our younger outdoor enthusiasts, we find they’re looking for the essentials and for things that can be reused— pieces that you can run and climb in, then wear at the brewery. People don’t want to have a huge wardrobe. They’re keeping it more simple,” he told Discover
According to Desgreniers, the current aesthetic in the Sea to Sky Corridor favours earth tones such as grey, green, brown and black. Twill overshirts are ubiquitous. Meanwhile, the current shift in running wear is towards more oversized and square cuts, with long boxy shorts that are less closely fitted, which further demonstrates that people in Squamish are less interested in how they look and more in how they feel.
“It’s a tricky time because people are looking for low prices; they want the deepest discount, and with items that have a higher price tag, such as our Norda shoes, you have to do some education to show the customer how they’ve been constructed to last longer. They’re seen as fashion, as disposable,” he said.
“I wish people could look at skis with a better idea of their lifespan.”
Another factor that is influencing their purchasing decisions is the climate, and the potential impact certain products could have on the environment’s future. That’s a passion topic for Desgreniers.
“I like to think we have a big job to educate our customers about their purchasing decisions. What we carry reflects what we care about. So, we’re not bringing things in just because
they sell,” he said.
“There’s no value in bringing something in just because people want it; we bring it in because we believe in it.”
25 YEARS OF DURABILITY
For Murray Sovereign, the owner of Valhalla Pure, the entire clothing landscape has shifted since he first opened the store 25 years ago.
“Back then, Squamish was in the last stages of being a logging and railing town, so there were an awful lot of blue jean tuxedos. What we offer hasn’t changed much, though, because our target customers are still looking for the same thing, which is versatile, durable, waterproof clothing,” he said.
“The biggest single difference was the re-emergence of wool as a technical layer. When people realized that Merino wool was soft and comfortable, as opposed to that Stanfield’s ragg wool that everyone knew from childhood…, it began to perform really well.”
Another development is the recent court ruling in California to ban Gore-Tex products over environmental concerns, a move that has had reverberations throughout the industry. Though the company plans to re-release its products eventually, it’s likely they won’t be as effective as they’ve been in the past.
When it comes to colour scheme for Squamish, Valhalla Pure does primarily sell the earth tones that are popular. But in some cases, it’s necessary to use bright colours, according to manager Tobi Haywood.
“For our market we have a bit of both. Lots of people come in looking for something visible; So, poppy oranges and reds. When search and rescue comes looking, it’s a lot easier for
Stay warm and dry with items from Valhalla Pure Squamish.
Photo by Kaylan Worsnop @aspectmediaworks.ca
them to spot bright orange than army green, so we try to err on the side of brightness. We always keep safety in mind,” she said.
Popular brands in Squamish include Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Sea to Summit, Osprey and Salomon—among many others. The one common denominator is the ability for these clothes to endure punishing circumstances and come out the other side intact.
“People grow to value the durability, comfort and functionality of outdoor clothing, and that seems to work itself into their everyday clothing choices. Some people use their clothing until it is threadbare, patched and repaired with duct tape while others will want new colours and pieces each season,” she said.
“The clothing people wear will be as varied as our population is.” f
Squamish folks want clothes and gear that lasts.
Photo by Kaylan Worsnop @aspectmediaworks.ca
Photo by Kaylan Worsnop @aspectmediaworks.ca
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How to achieve that fit Squamish look and outlook
WILL JOHNSON
Yoga soothes your mind, climbing challenges your fears, and trampolines take you to new heights.
It’s no wonder that so many people in Squamish appear to be in excellent shape, thanks to the wide variety of outdoor and indoor pursuits being offered in the community.
Here are some quintessentially Squamish ways folks explore their physical limitations, stretch their minds and ascend to new heights both spiritually and physically.
AERIAL THERAPY
Who knew you could do so many different things with a trampoline?
At Airhouse Sports Academy in Squamish, you have the opportunity to soar through the air while developing skillsets that will serve you in a number of different sports pursuits: parkour, skateboarding, skiing, biking and mountain climbing, to name just a few.
“Whatever you end up doing in Squamish, you’re going to need Airhouse at some point,” Airhouse marketing manager Natalie Heili told Discover
Folks in Squamish train all year long in different ways.
“If trampolining isn’t your own sport, you’ll still learn spatial orientation and awareness while developing your body strength and mobility. Whatever you’re working on, it will come back to
training one of those fundamentals, like how on the bike trails learning to fall is paramount.”
How it works: visitors can attend Airhouse seven days a week and check in,
whether they’re looking to play around or seriously train. During that time, there are drop-in coaches available to supervise and ask questions—they may help you learn how to do a backflip, a bum drop or something even more advanced.
“We have a super tramp, the Big Boy, and the stuff people do on it is absolutely insane. That’s where the Olympic team comes to train. Then we have a big 800-square-foot spring floor area for gymnastics, a whole lot of parkour features and obstacles, and the floor itself is either for tumbling or loaded up with equipment,” she said.
“There’s kiddie stuff for sliding down and jumping, or the older kids flip from item to item. There’s a big space with moveable features, then we have the balance bars, the rings, the beam.”
All of their programming is geared towards the appropriate transitional phase for the participant, based on the Sport for Life athlete development approach.
“It’s always positive, fair, challenging, and the whole point is to help you develop from where you currently are so you can become a better athlete.”
Big and small kids can get big air at Airhouse all winter long.
Photo courtesy of Airhouse Sports Academy
CONNECTING WITH NATURE
According to the ancient Hindu philosophies that underpin contemporary yoga practices, there’s no such thing as the self. All people and all things are interdependent, a cosmic mix of energy that should be seen as a single whole.
“The common explanation is if you see an ocean wave, and you can see it has textures and colours and foam bubbling up, it looks independent, but, in actuality, it’s just the ocean. It’s all one body of water. And it’s the same for us, we’re interconnected and coming from the same source,” Ellen Reesor of KIND Yoga told Discover.
So when she invites her participants to a secluded geodome on Cheekeye Ranch, she’s very purposefully situating them amidst nature as a reminder of how connected to it we are. She’s owned yoga studios for nearly a decade now, first in Ontario and now Squamish, and has observed that people are in dire need of that connection.
“Our geodome is tucked away in the forest at the back of the property with a massive 360-degree panoramic view. You can smell cedar in the space, hear the birds chirping and the wind dancing. We’re surrounded by creation, which is alive,” she said.
“It attracts people who are less interested in fitness and more in having a full-on experience, an immersion, to slow down and get rid of all the
distractions so you can be more present with the community and with nature.”
FINDING TIME TO CHANT
When was the last time you chanted?
For Gin Perry, owner of Shala Yoga in Squamish, it’s perfectly natural to incorporate vocalizations into her practice, because that’s the way it’s been done for centuries—before the west bastardized yoga, and shifted the focus to exercise.
“Sound is a really beautiful way to create a grounding and meditative state. We’re trying to hold to the root of yoga. When it was popularized, other practices were lost because it was just focused on the physical,” she told Discover.
“You go to India, and they always open and close with a chant.”
Chanting is a powerful way to clear your mind of distractions, and achieve greater levels of meditation—which can also be done while walking.
“It’s a great practice for your mind. It’s about calming the monkey mind so your essence can come through, the deeper layers of self.”
She said chanting also connects you with those around you.
“As a class we might chant ‘peace for all’ and in yoga the vision is liberation and peace for all. When you have practitioners steeped in that philosophy, there’s a sense of kindness and compassion and community. It’s a way of walking through the world, of having concern for the impact beyond just ourselves.”
It’s not always the buffest person who’s the best climber.
Observers often see someone with a strong upper body, and assume they’ll be able to muscle their way to victory. But according to director and co-owner of Ground Up Climbing Centre, Alison StewartPeterson, in reality it’s the climbing nerds, the people who have to rely on their brains rather than their brawn, who fly up the wall with impressive ease.
“Ultimately, climbing is extremely technical. You need to dance your way up the wall, and the more efficient the better. Finger strength is really important, and learning the right techniques,” she told Discover
And that’s where Ground Up comes in, giving climbers a training ground before hitting the real mountains that loom large all around town. The gym attracts climbing aficionados of all ages and skill levels, and is known to be an inclusive culture for those united by the goal of always getting higher.
“We find anyone can be a climber. You could have someone introductory and someone super advanced climbing on the same wall. You always feel like someone’s in your corner, and there’s someone to talk to, because you’re working towards the same goal.”
Some people have coaches at the gym, but primarily it’s just climbers supporting each other.
“Lots of little groups of folks come together to climb, weekday evenings we see a lot of those, and that’s a great way to connect. You start out just climbing together, then you end up building a further relationship.” f
Yoga can be very grounding, says local owner of Shala Yoga.
Photo by Stephanie Gaul
Cross training, like yoga, helps with other local pastimes, like rock climbing.
Photo courtesy of Ground Up Climbing Centre
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Loving your skin, Squamish style
Your skin is the largest organ of your body, but it doesn’t always get the respect it deserves.
In the Sea to Sky Corridor, you’ll routinely see vicious crimson forehead sunburns from long climbs without sunscreen, ragged bleeding limbs from mountain biking disasters, the joyful weather-beaten look of the outdoor enthusiast, and, of course, the looping script and vivid colours of freshly inked tattoos.
WILL JOHNSON
For some, their skin is an afterthought. For others, it’s their temple.
FOCUSED ON SKIN HEALTH
At Skin Focus, a Squamish aesthetic clinic owned by Dr. Dawn Gareau, the team sees pretty much every type of skin there is. They see the scars, the
moles, the eczema and the acne. They remove hair, laser off tattoos, and provide their clients with a customdesigned treatment process to achieve the skin health they’ve dreamed of.
“People who walk in here with a skin concern, we want them to come away feeling that somebody has listened to them and given them all the information they need,” she told Discover
“As a naturopath, my passion is to help people—which is what I did prior to this, in dentistry. Prevention is always key to my practice. Being able to give people treatment plans, then they see the positivity and a better quality of life that comes from it, that brings me joy that I’ve been able to share that information over the years. We’re here to help.”
Gareau first opened Skin Focus in 2019, after recognizing a growing trend of awareness locally in both skin health and anti-aging regenerative medicine. The treatments they offer include derma fillers, chemical peels, spider vein removal, cryotherapy, microneedling, laser hair removal and botox. She said
Folks in Squamish have an outdoorsy glow.
Photo by Kotkoa, Adobe Stock
she can regularly recognize her work on the streets in Squamish, as patients walk by with a rejuvenated and glowing look.
According to employee Mayson Lees, the clinic has definitely attracted a following now.
“We’ve hit our capacity for different parts of the year. We have waitlists, depending on the treatments, and our clients keep coming back which is amazing. We love our client base. Then the new clients who come into the clinic, they’re surprised by the number of treatments we have and the level of professionalism.”
"As a naturopath, my passion is to help people"
-DR. DAWN GAREAU
TATTOO ARTISTRY IN THE SEA TO SKY
Another person who sees a wide swath of Squamish skin is Steve Cole, who has owned Ashlar Tattoo for the last decade. He sees everyone from the nervous dabbler looking to get a piece the size of a postage stamp, as well as full-body enthusiasts looking to spend months creating a masterpiece.
“Squamish is very tattooed, just like the rest of the Lower Mainland. We deal with a constant range of beautiful demographics—some people have full Japanese-themed pieces while others keep it minimalist and simple, so there’s no one way to pinpoint exactly what the Squamish look is,” he told Discover
“People in Squamish are very outdoorsy, so we see a lot of naturebased imagery in their tattoos. You might see the [Stawamus] Chief with some trees, or the ocean meeting the land. Everything leans towards that, or adventure sports. Then there’s elk, salmon, black bears, grizzly bears. I’ve had clients who do extensive backcountry hiking and want all the local alpine flowers.”
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Wildlife and nature tattoo are popular in Squamish.
Photo courtesy of Ashlar Tattoo
DR. CARIN STRYDOMREGISTEREDNURSE, DEANNA STARR
One subject he sees repeatedly is avian-themed pieces, including ravens and crows. Often he’ll meet tourists who are so blown away by their surroundings that they want to capture it immediately on their skin.
“People in Squamish are very outdoorsy, so we see a lot of nature-based imagery in their tattoos.”
“It’s highly meaningful to begin with, getting a tattoo in the first place. The level of that meaningfulness is heightened when you’re getting
something related to a particular place that’s important to you,” he said.
“Some people have a profound epiphany while travelling through this region, get so blown away by how spoiled we are, and come in to get the Chief or something. Then, on the flip side, you have someone who comes in on more of a whim.”
His tattooers try to avoid the more ubiquitous trends, if they can help it, always looking for ways to be innovative and unique. He said that hands are a currently popular place to get tattooed, and there’s a tendency towards getting pieces that are public and exposed— rather than hiding the art under clothes.
“It never gets old. There’s a quote from Anthony Bourdain where he said you’re only as good as your last meal, and that’s stuck with me. You’re only as good a creator or artist as the last piece you did. The last thing for me is getting that client out the door with that super confident feeling about the work they received and the process they went through. It could be the tiniest tattoo, but if they leave in that mind frame, I consider my job done.” f
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Tattoo Photo courtesy of Ashlar Tattoo
Create your Squamish dream home
Diamond Head Development project has a nature vibe.
Photo by Jeremy Allen
WILL JOHNSON
How to get that Squamish look, whether it means designing, building or decorating your space.
There’s a quintessential Squamish look not just to people and their outfits but to homes in Squamish as well.
Here are four steps to living like a local.
STEP 1: BUILD SUSTAINABLY
If space aliens were looking for your house, they wouldn’t even realize it’s there.
That’s the goal in mind for many builders in Squamish as they try to lessen their impact on the environment and camouflage their creations into the gorgeous natural topography of the Sea to Sky Corridor.
By having the footprint of a home flow with the natural contours of the landscape itself, and by incorporating design features that evoke the setting all around it—vertical beams that loom proud like trees, exterior paint that matches the surrounding colour scheme, architectural curves that mirror the geometry of the immense rock faces Squamish is known for—the home becomes just another part of the harmonious scenery.
For Jason Wood, president and founder of Diamond Head Development (DHD), this aesthetic is integrated into all of the work his company
completes—which includes projects to construct entirely new neighbourhoods with dozens of apartments, condos and duplexes. Because of this, the company has an outsized impact on the overall look of the entire Squamish community.
“We are proud of the way we build our homes in Squamish, and we aim to set a standard in the development industry of building sustainably. We are on this path, and we hope others join us for the betterment of generations to come,” Wood told Discover
The natural setting of Squamish dictates not only their materials, but also their approach to the build. Fir is the signature wood for the entire Sea to Sky Corridor, and because Squamish is located in a coastal rainforest, all wood needs to be permanently protected with stains and clear coats.
The company has learned over the past 20 years which products last, and which ones deteriorate, and how to guard against that. They also employ a geotechnical consultant to help confirm that everything is safely constructed for the long term.
Then, during the construction process, Diamond Head commits to incorporating energy efficiency, utilizing modern building techniques— including solar power—to meet industry standards such as Step Code 5 and Net Zero Ready. They have the distinction of building the first net zero, zero emissions home in SkyRidge and have delivered multiple “Built Green” communities.
Diamond Head Development’s current project being constructed on Finch Drive is envisioned as a standard-
Photo by Jeremy Allen
The Squamish housing look considers the environment.
Photo by Jeremy Allen
37991Second Avenue,Squamish (604)390-1910 |Saltedvine.ca(604)390-1910| Saltedvine.ca
setting example of sustainability and green building practice. The builders use wood framing and cores instead of steel stud framing and recyclable fibre-cement cladding—both of which lessen the impact on the climate. If Wood had his way, this would become a new normal.
“We all have choices to make each day that impact the community we live in, and DHD purposely attempts to make a positive impact each day,” he said.
Besides providing Squamish with housing, Wood is also proud of DHD’s recent construction of an elementary school and daycare. They’re also ensuring that affordable housing is incorporated into their large-scale projects, including Finch Drive.
“When you combine all of these accomplishments together, you create a legacy of a company that made a positive impact in the community.”
STEP 2: DESIGN INTENTIONALLY
Squamish is a mecca for a rare breed of dreamer, and they tend to have a particular vision for how their homes should look and feel. Many are looking to create an oasis from the real world, a place of retreat and sanctuary, and that takes a certain finesse.
That’s where designers like Lauren Ritz come in.
“I have a passion for the Squamish area. In a metropolis, people may be driven by their careers or too busy to think much about where they live, but most people in the Sea to Sky Corridor made a life choice to come here and be in this environment. That resonates with me,” Ritz told Discover.
A Diamond Head Development project.
Photo by Jeremy Allen
“They may be struggling to create their dream home and this may be their only chance to do it. We get to help them make that dream happen and be with them every step of the way.”
Ritz heads a small team at LRD Design. Her goal is to streamline the process of homebuyers acquiring furniture, decor and design elements that evoke joy. In many cases, this saves the homeowner time and money, as LRD does all the legwork of selecting and acquiring the items needed.
“Most people don’t understand how much work it is to bring a home together. It could make or break a marriage.”
Ritz likes to take her cues from the natural West Coast surroundings, the same as the builders, infusing the environment with ocean, forest and mountain imagery.
“When we’re assessing the house, we pay close attention to the architecture. We look out the window and ask, ‘What is the story on the outside that we can bring in?’ The view from a house will tell a story, so we’ll ask ourselves, ‘What can we do to complement it?’”
And whether they’re choosing the perfect sofa to put in front of the fireplace, or the right figurine to sit by the toilet, they’re working within a coastal-modern style.
“It’s at the forefront of our decision-making. When we define West Coast modern, it’s about making decisions like picking native materials. So hemlock or fir or hickory instead of walnut or some exotic wood, for example. That’s what we do, and it works with the look of the corridor.”
STEP 3: FILL YOUR SPACE
When someone walks into your living space, they should be able to tell immediately if it has the Squamish look—even if that means it’s entirely empty because the inhabitant is too busy rock-climbing or kayaking to care about what goes on the walls.
But it could also be a single item that gives it away, like a thunderbird print on the mantle or a framed map of the Sea to Sky Highway.
At Anna’s Interiors, which has been family-owned and operated for nearly 40 years, owner Jake Mathauser has a pretty good finger on the pulse of what Squamish people like. He sells everything you could need to fill a home, from couches to lamps to dining room centrepieces, while also offering personalized design consultations.
“We’re really building our own style here. With so many years in business, I know what people want,” he told Discover
“People like to make their place look clean and modern. They’re looking for a mid-century modern look. So sofas with a
LRD STUDIO aims to make a home more cosy.
Photo courtesy of Darby Magill
cleaner line, live cut furniture, instead of that marshmallow look. You go into older homes, and the walls are covered in stuff, but nowadays, people in Squamish are more minimalist because they’re so busy recreating,” he said.
At his store, he routinely sells metal decor or carved signs that have an ocean or mountain theme. Another popular item is wooden signs with sayings like “Life is Better at the Lake,” “Paddling Makes You Awesome,” and “Heaven Has a Dock.”
His bestselling items feature all the recognizable Squamish symbols.
“Scenic art is popular, there’s definitely a lot of artwork with the ocean, mountains. Most people want what they already see outside their window.”
STEP 4: SEEK OUT LOCAL ART
The easiest way to ensure your Squamish artwork is authentic is to meet the creators themselves—a viable option in many cases, as the area is known for being an enclave for artists. Attending
local events such as ArtWalk can give aficionados a glimpse into how artistic sensibilities are evolving in real-time.
Squamish Arts’ executive director Clea Young believes purchasing local art is a much more immersive and meaningful way to engage with the work you’re putting in your house.
“I would encourage people looking to learn more about local art to connect with the arts council, that’s a good place to start. Squamish Arts curates two galleries in town, and we’re constantly changing it up. You could tune into your local galleries, like [the BAG in] Brackendale, or attend local markets when artists are selling their work,” she told Discover
“I have two pieces of art by artists from Squamish, and every time I look at them, I see elements of my environment reflected back at me in a unique way, different than how I see it, and that gives you a new perspective.”
And if you ultimately acquire something, you can know the funds are benefiting the place you live.
“This is a really art-focused, bustling
community, judging by coming through the Squamish Arts Festival and seeing the crowds, all the artisans and vendors and markets set up. It was busy and beautiful. People were selling homemade garments, ceramics, mugs with ladybugs on them,” she said.
“And the best part of buying local art is knowing that the money is going towards your community, towards arts and culture here in the Sea to Sky Corridor.” f
Homes in Squamish feature a lot of wood and are inviting places after a fun day outside.
Photo courtesy of Anna's Interiors
The restaurant at Squamish Valley Golf Club offers great food and stunning views.
Photo by Par 6 Golf Media
Get psyched for signature Squamish eats and drinks
IWILL JOHNSON
t’s hard not to be inspired when you’re surrounded by the surge and growl of Howe Sound, by the supernatural presence of the Stawamus Chief silhouetted against the sky, and the jagged skyline of the misty blue Coast Mountains in the distance.
So it’s no surprise that these Sea to Sky landmarks have provided imaginative sustenance for Squamish chefs and mixologists, who have infused their creations with the grandeur and romance of their surroundings.
NAMES FROM THE LANDSCAPE
For Howe Sound Brewing, it was the Diamond Head mountain range that inspired them to create a signature stout in 1996, one that is now available in a nitro can.
“The Diamond Head Stout is super creamy because of the nitro, with a rich malt profile that has chocolate notes to it. It’s similar to Guinness, but the craft version. We serve it in a pint glass and it will cascade, like a Guinness does, with a creamy head to it,” said marketing manager Megan Moore.
“The first time I tasted it, I thought it was kind of like cold brew coffee. It’s an easy drinking beer, 5% alcohol, so it’s not heavy, and it’s
delicious. It’s got a dark brown colour, and the head is creamy white, and on the glass you’ll see the headlines on the glass as you drink it.”
Moore said the stout is perfect for sitting next to the fireplace on a cold day—and they happen to have one in their cozy, classic brew pub.
“At Howe Sound Brewing, you’ll see locals and tourists drinking beer with their families, and even with their dogs on our dog-friendly patio. You’ll see people in bike gear, ski gear, coming off the mountain,” she said.
“We serve the classic pub fare: burgers, sandwiches, stone-fired pizzas, vegan and vegetarian options and shareables for a bigger table. The favourites are definitely our pizzas, and our brew pub burger, and any of our shareables like deep-fried pickles and nachos.”
HAVE YOU HEARD OF SHISO LEAVES?
They’re the latest garden-picked ingredient used by Alex Mumm, the head distiller at Raincity Brewing, to create their Garden Bay cocktail. The creation came about when one of their bartenders had friends growing a surplus of the leafy green, which is popular in Japanese cuisine and other dishes. That triggered their collaborative creation process.
“It was a tricky ingredient to turn into an alcohol, because it’s delicate and the taste can disappear easily, so we ended up distilling it. We soaked it in alcohol to make a flavour extract and really purify that flavour,” he told Discover
“We make a tincture, mix it with our barrel-aged gin, then also use a Japanese ingredient called umeshu. It’s a type of plum brandy. Then we add some water and simple syrup. No soda, mostly booze, and a little bit of lime zest that’s more for aroma than looks.”
He said the creation has been catching on.
“It’s definitely one of our most popular cocktails, but it’s very strong—so it’s not for everybody. Having good bartenders is an important part of our business because they’re our public face, so we don’t want them mixing standard cocktails like gin and tonics and moscow mules all day,” he said.
“We want to give our customers something as different and memorable as possible.”
"It’s definitely one of our most popular cocktails, but it’s very strong—so it’s not for everybody."
His staff have been inspired by Romain Lautrain, a foundational bartender for Raincity who is currently travelling the world.
“The rest of our team came because of his cocktails, to learn from him and follow his passion. And they are. That invention process developed with him has continued on, and that’s what attracts Squamish’s best bartenders.”
HAVE YOU TRIED FRENCH CANADIAN FUSION?
The Broken Seal opened this past summer, but it has already established a quirky reputation for being a non-
Raincity Distillery brings big city style to our small town.
Photo by Johnny Xu
Howe Sound Brewery is where locals and visitors alike can relax.
Photo courtesy of Howe Sound Brewing
pretentious place to chill out while enjoying quality food and beverages. And it’s clear that the owners have a sense of adventure with their menu.
“Definitely, the most unique item we offer is the watermelon tartar, where we slow-roast a watermelon in the oven for over an hour. It’s very odd. Then we marinate it for a minimum of 24 hours, and we mix in things like edamame and
pickled mangoes,” owner Matt Upton told Discover.
“Our chef is French Canadian, and our sous chef is from France. We do have some limitations when it comes to our kitchen, but that allows us to think outside the box about what we want to be serving.”
Their menu is considered French Canadian Fusion, something that
hasn’t been offered in Squamish until now. They’ve been thrilled that the community seems to be responding well to their idiosyncratic vision, which includes having the name of their restaurant brought to life in their bathroom wallpaper—the singer Seal’s head is shown on a seal’s body, the seal on a car gasket is shown being broken etc.
“We also realized that name meant our initials would be B.S., which is another fun thing to incorporate into our branding and merch.”
The name is supposed to signal to visitors that this isn’t a ritzy, high-scale
"Our most popular menu item so far is the pulled pork on bao buns, that is our number one seller."
Broken Seal is one of Squamish's newest eateries, and it has a cool local vibe in summer or winter.
Photo courtesy of Broken Seal
place—it’s more appropriate for hanging out with friends after mountain biking, maybe having a tipsy girl’s night or taking someone on a casual date.
“Our most popular menu item so far is the pulled pork on bao buns, that is our number one seller. The pork is slowcooked for 24 hours and topped with pickled cabbage, carrots, mango, cucumber, housemade barbecue sauce and micro cilantro.”
Their most popular drink, meanwhile, is the spicy mescal margarita with passion fruit, served in a double rocks glass with a tahini rim and shaken over ice.
The owners feel they’re filling an important niche.
“Everybody who leaves reviews says the same thing, which is that this is what Squamish needs and it’s a great addition to what Squamish already has to offer.”
Photos courtesy of Broken Seal
A MAINSTAY IN THE COMMUNITY
For as long as the Squamish Valley Golf Club has been running, there has been a comfortable restaurant where players can rant, drink, debrief and feel like they belong. Some current members have been going there for decades, but management wants to make sure it doesn’t feel off-limits to people who haven’t been before.
“The restaurant isn’t just for our members. It’s also open to the whole community,” said the club’s general manager Scott Wengi, noting it’s regularly used by curling and squash players as well.
“We close between Christmas and the New Year, but otherwise, we’re open for breakfast and lunch during the winter at a reduced schedule of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. —and the bar is open in the evenings to accommodate the curling leagues,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend brunch. We’ve got great views over the golf course while it’s all white and snowcovered, with great scenery towards
the mountains. People come during the winter to walk the trails or explore around, then finish with a nice warm breakfast or lunch.”
The golf course restaurant sells lots of eggs benedict, with one of their most popular being the smoked brisket. They also have a breakfast bowl with poached eggs and spinach, and a large variety of omelettes.
“We have the benefit of having our chef, Jaime Grant, with us for close to 20 years now. Having that constant presence helps us maintain the vision, so you can expect consistency in your food quality.”
It also has a fully stocked bar, with local and imported beers, but one in particular gets picked more than any other—the Hosel Rocket Lager from Steamworks Brewing, which is actually a reference to golf—“hosel” is one element of a golf club, the part where the shaft connects with the head.
“If you strike a ball with that part of a golf club, you know it’s not going far,” he said.
According to Wengi, winter is the perfect time to enjoy their restaurant.
“It’s a really relaxed atmosphere because the winter times are not quite so bustling. It’s a nice place to meet up, where you can still hear yourself talk. There’s a nice sense of peace to it. You’re likely to see the same faces, the regulars, on the weekends, and it just makes you feel like you’re at home and comfortable.” f
Enjoy a hearty lunch at Squamish Valley Golf Club.
Photo by Par 6 Golf Media
A user’s guide to a unique Squamish nightlife
WILL JOHNSON
Nightlife in Squamish looks a little different than in the big city.
Because of the small-town population and limited number of establishments operating locally, owners need to be versatile to make the economics work. They need to provide entertainment opportunities that reach across demographics in an attempt to maximize their appeal, while keeping the regulars happy.
And though most things wrap up before midnight, there’s plenty of fun to be had before sunset in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
‘IT FEELS LIKE COMING HOME’
The more you change, the more you stay the same.
The Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG) has been a foundational institution for the Squamish arts community for over 50 years now, and after an extensive renovation and renewal project it’s now up and running under new ownership, hosting art workshops and putting on concerts.
According to operations manager Jessica Rigg, visitors so far have been thrilled with the new version of the space.
“We like to say that it’s ‘same same, but different.’ We tried to maintain as much of the feeling and vibe and history that made the BAG so special from day one. It feels like coming home. You hang up
We are a small town still, but our nightlife has lots to offer.
Photo by Nutthaseth Vanchaichana, iStock / Getty Images Plus
your coat, come in and have your coffee, then you can sit on the couch and listen to music,” she said.
“People coming back were excited and grateful we maintained the energy of the original while really elevating the space.”
The square footage of the gallery has grown, since they’ve incorporated former living spaces into the main design. There’s now a rooftop patio, as well as a commercial kitchen and restaurant space that is open every day.
Rigg said the BAG plays a special role in the community.
“We are really lucky to be a facility that’s able to meet the
The Brackendale Art Gallery is a hot spot for night life.
Photo courtesy of Joanie Lebrun
needs of our community. Nowhere else is like what we have. We have our stage set up, then we’ve been integrating arts and food and we have some really unique offerings in a premiere event space,” she said.
The aesthetic of the space is immediately apparent when you enter, as you’re met with a giant concrete unicorn and a wall of faces made from donors’ faces back in the 1980s. They have both permanent pieces and rotating art shows.
“Our goal is to support the local arts and culture community, while also trying to expand beyond and bring in some bigger names on the music side. Our target is to offer music here in Squamish that typically you would have to go to Vancouver or further to access.”
A TRICKY PROPOSITION
There’s not much they don’t do at Trickster’s Hideout.
Since they’re the main nightclub in Squamish, the three owners of the performance space feel it’s important to reach as many potential customers as
possible.
“It’s an extremely versatile space. Squamish is so small, so you have to appeal to multiple demographics and as stewards of the community, we want it to be accessible to as many people as
possible—which is why we now have a wheelchair ramp for the stage,” owner Allen Edwards told Discover.
“We have stuff like rock bands and big concerts, but we also host community events as the fall kicks in.
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Trickster's offers something for everyone.
Photo courtesy of Trickster’s Hideout
Every Wednesday is an open mic, or poetry reading, and we have a storytelling series that’s been really popular. We’ve also had second language meet-ups for people to learn a foreign language, and entrepreneur meetings where we help each other.”
According to Edwards, their establishment’s name captures its energy perfectly.
“The trickster is always trying to play games with you and wants to challenge the establishment. We want to challenge the norm. We’re a nightclub, but we cut off people who drink too much, and we start earlier than most clubs do,” he said.
They’re still fine-
tuning what role they want to have in the community, responding to visitor feedback.
“Like any business venture, you start out starry-eyed and full of hope, but there’s still lots of work to do. We had some hard choices, getting rid of our prejudices and listening to what people in Squamish really want. And now locals are coming back after a busy summer, and everything’s been really well received.”
YOUR OWN BACKYARD
It’s kind of like a wedding.
When you walk into The Backyard, you’re going to see
decorations that evoke the hardscrabble logging history of the town, but you’re also going to see evidence of the skiing and mountain climbing culture that has risen in the past few decades. According to owners Peter Moonen and Blake Mahovic, they think of their decor as a marriage between New Squamish and Old Squamish.
“To us, the culture starts with the space, and it’s intentionally very open so that you can see the whole pub as soon as you walk in. You can see people playing pool or darts; there’s all these communal tables and a fireplace, and we recently did a paint job that makes it a little warmer and cozier inside,” Mahovic told Discover
Trickster’s Hideout is one of the newest local nightspots.
Photos courtesy Trickster’s Hideout
“We’re always greeting you right away, to really drive home that everyone is welcome. We create community between the front of house and the back of house, which extends into the service the patrons get. The comments I get are that people instantly feel like they’re home.”
The Backyard’s design evokes a living room, to the point that there’s a couch with a coffee table and books in their lobby. The bar originally came on their radar while looking for a venue to host rugby get-togethers, which resulted in them purchasing it.
“The first time we hosted the rugby team, the bar was full of players and people from the community walking around and chatting, and it reminded me of being back in the U.K. That’s an awesome phenomenon there, is you can go down to the pub alone and always find someone to chat with. That’s what we want The Backyard to be like.”
The Backyard has been hosting events recently, including comedy nights featuring both amateur and professional comics. They have live music nearly every weekend, and have hosted a
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The Backyard aims to be like a living room.
Photo by Ty Holtan
number of fundraisers for local charities. There are also trivia events.
And though they have lots of locals who come out regularly, The Backyard is also wide open to tourists.
“If you walk in here for the first time, it won’t be long until you’ll feel like a local. There’s no better way to feel the pulse of Squamish.” f
The Backyard.
Photo by Ty Holtan
DOWNTOWN SQUAMISH
SQUAMISH
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!
ACCOMMODATION
1 Mountain Retreat Hotel & Suites 38922 Progress Way 604-815-0883 squamishmountainretreathotel.com
ATTRACTIONS
2 Britannia Mine Museum Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) 1-800-896-4044 britanniaminemuseum.ca
AUTOMOTIVE
3 Squamish Motorsports 101-1101 Commercial Place 778-894-0849 RV Lot 38174 Loggers Lane squamishmotorsports.com
4 Triton Automotive and Industrial/Napa 1003 Industrial Way 1-800-790-6434 tritonautoindustrial.com
CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS
5 Domino’s Pizza 1257 Commercial Way 604-567-6767 pizza.dominos.ca
6 Freebird Table & Oyster Bar 40900 Tantalus Road 604-815-2076 freebird.ca
7 Manpuku Sushi 38105 Second Avenue 604-567-7874
8 Noshy 1307 Pemberton Avenue 604-390-1739 noshy.ca
9 Panago Pizza 15-1347 Pemberton Avenue 1-866-310-0001 panago.com
10 Pepe’s Chophouse & Seafood 40359 Tantalus Way 604-898-3606 pepeschophouse.com
11 Subway 1321 Pemberton Avenue 604-567-2011 40147 Glenalder Place 604-898-8393 subway.com
12 Sunflower Bakery 38086 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-2231 sunflowerbakerycafe.com
13 Taka Ramen and Sushi 38065 Cleveland Aveue 604-390-0077 takaramensushi.com
14 Taste of Saigon 38038 Cleveland Avenue 604-390-0088
15 The Copper Coil Still & Grill 37996 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-0646 thecoppercoil.com
16 The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar 37991 Second Avenue 604-390-1910 saltedvine.ca
17 The Watershed Grill 41101 Government Road 604-898-6665 thewatershedgrill.com
REAL ESTATE
18 Finch Drive by Diamond Head Development 1050 Finch Drive 236-513-4953 finchdrive.com
19 RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate 38261 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-3571 myseatosky.com
20 Royal LePage Black Tusk Realty 3-1900 Garibaldi Way 604-898-5904 blacktuskrealty.com
21 Stilhavn 1388 Main Street 604-398-7999 stilhavn.com/squamish
RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT
22 Brennan Park Recreation Centre 1009 Centennial Way 604-898-3604 squamish.ca
23 The 55 Activity Centre 1201 Village Green Way 604-848-6898 squamish.ca
RETAIL
24 Anna’s Interiors 38052 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-6369 annasinteriors.ca
25 Arrow Wood Games 38157 Second Avenue 604-390-5009 arrowwoodgames.com
26 Book Mountain 38145 Second Avenue 604-390-5313 bookmountain.ca
27 Cap-it 128-39455 Discovery Way 604-567-9405 shop.capit.com
28 Firetail Pets 40208 Glenalder Place 604-390-0727 firetailpets.com
29 Handy Appliances 1115 Industrial Way 604-629-9990 handyappliances.ca
Non Emergency call: RCMP: 604-892-6100
Squamish Municipal Hall: 604-892-5217
Squamish General Hospital: 604-892-5211
Dog Pound: 604-898-5411
30 Joe’s Fireplace Products 1121 Commercial Pl #105 604-892-9800 seatoskyfireplace.com
31 Gather Bookshop 38041 2nd Avenue 778-862-5404 gatherbookshop.com
32 Marks 40270 Glenalder Place 604-892-5855 marks.com
33 Precision Optical 1362 Pemberton Avenue 604-892-5615 precisionoptical.ca
34 Poolside Spa 316-1201 Commercial Way 604-567-9110 poolsidespaservices.com/squamish
35 Squamish Farmer’s Market 37996 Cleveland Avenue 604-848-4339 www.squamishfarmersmarket.com
36 Stong’s Market 38078 Cleveland Avenue 604-567-9444 express.stongs.com
37 Waypoint Insurance #1 – 1900 Garibaldi Way 778-731-2024 waypoint.ca
SERVICES
38 Municipal Hall 37955 Second Avenue 604-892-5217 squamish.ca
39 Squamish Public Library 37907 Second Avenue 604-892-3110 squamishlibrary.ca
WELLNESS
40 Atwell Dental 8-40437 Tantalus Road 604-567-1155 atwelldental.com
41 Euphoria Natural Health 106–40147 Glenalder Place 604-390-4455 euphorianaturalhealth.com
42 Lezara Laser and Vein Care 37989 Cleveland Avenue 604-390-4054 lezara.ca
43 Sea to Sky Physio Cleveland Clinic 201-37979 Cleveland Avenue 604-898-3666 Performance Centre 38150 2nd Avenue 604-390-1141 seatoskyphysio.com
