Discover Squamish Winter 2023

Discover how

is

is

When I first moved to Squamish in about 2014, the friendliness of Squamish made me nearly fall off my bike.

No kidding.

I had come from the Lower Mainland, and there, folks didn’t wave at strangers or say hello unless greeting direct neighbours.

During my first week in Squamish, I got on my bike after work one summer night and decided to investigate more of my new home.

A few metres into the ride, a woman smiled and waved.

Odd, I thought, she must think I am someone else.

I smiled and nodded and kept going.

Then as I approached a fellow working on the landscaping of a commercial property, he stood up and gave me a wave, hose in hand, water following the wave and his wide smile.

I was so shocked that I lost my balance and nearly fell off my cruiser.

Six people waved at me on that ride.

No word of a lie.

None knew me.

I learned quickly:that is just a thing people do here.

Weeks later, I complimented a woman on her bike basket as she was locking up beside me near the drug store.

She proceeded to take the basket off her bike and hand it to me.

I don’t think I closed my mouth long enough to thank her.

Who does that? A Squamish resident that is who.

The theme of this edition of Discover Squamish is “Friendly Squamish,” and for good reason, as these examples show.

This is not to say we don’t have our tiffs or grumps here; our social media pages are a dumpster fire of grievances and arguments like anywhere else, but we indeed are a friendly place.

We are growing, and there are accompanying pains that pull at the friendly threads of our comfy winter sweater of kindness. And the pandemic made many of us feel isolated.

It diminished our sense of community.

But we are coming back from that now.

Whether it is finding ways to enjoy a meal, the great outdoors or overcoming a housing crunch, we try to do it by drawing others in and doing it together.

We hope you find our town and the pages of this magazine welcoming.

We are glad you are here.

Let’s be friends.

Photo by Estersinhache fotografía, gettyimages.ca

BY EDITOR JENNIFER THUNCHER

Fresh Tracks

Unique things to do in town when the temperatures drop

Locals’ favourite winter walk

While there are plenty of heart-racing adventures to be had in Squamish, many locals love a simple, easy and peaceful Squamish Estuary walk. It is arguably the best spot in town to get a good shot of the Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls in one Instagram or TikTok-worthy snap.

The mostly flat trail is suitable for the whole family. The 673-hectare Skwelwil ’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area is a sanctuary for many animal species and humans wanting a break from the hustle and bustle.

It also continues to be a significant area for Sk_wx_wú7 mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) traditional activities.

Over the last 20 years, there has been maintenance and restoration of significant wildlife and fish habitat. Due to the sensitivity of the area, please stick to the established trails, leave wildlife alone and always keep your dog on a leash.

Estuary trails can be accessed from the corner of Vancouver Street and Second Avenue or from Spit Road.

The Squamish Estuary walk is a locals' favourite.

Photo by Alex Ratson, gettyimages.ca

Sometimes, we all need a second chance

No question that Squamish is a place that loves its animals. But did you know Squamish is home to a ranch that is devoted to saving horses?

It is true.

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch, at 60001 Squamish Valley Road in Brackendale, rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes horses — and sometimes other animals, such as donkeys.

The nonprofit organization takes any horse in need but is dedicated to saving the 80% to 90% of horses at auction that would otherwise end up purchased by meat buyers.

Since November 2016, the ranch, which is the dream and passion of its founder Kris Latham, has rescued 202 horses and re-homed 166.

This is done with the help of about 115 Squamish volunteers.

The ranch is found within Cheekye Ranch, which hosts many activities for folks to enjoy, such as equine experiences and events, including the Saturday, Dec. 10, Winter Market. This rural market showcases local artisans and small business owners.

It is a great chance to see the animals, too.

For more information on the rescue, visit www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com; for the public events, visit cheekyeranch.com.

Want to view the eagles?

Not only tourists flock to Squamish. We are also home to one of North America’s largest congregations of wintering bald eagles.

There are plenty of ways to see Brackendale’s world-famous visitors.

Attracted to the area by spawning salmon, they mostly gather around the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers.

A popular — and free — place to see them through the winter is from the Eagle Run dike and viewing shelter on Government Road.

Ideally, head out in the morning, from November until early January. Often, there will be EagleWatch volunteers there to answer your questions and let you look through their telescopes to see the raptors in their full glory.

If you are able to spend a bit of cash, there are plenty of other fun ways to get up close and personal with the eagles.

There are guided raft tours, for example.

The Wilderness Eagle Float Tour is offered by the Squamish Rafting Company. Find them at squamish-rafting.com.

Canadian Outback Rafting also has floating trips. Find them at canadianoutbackrafting.com,

Cheekye Ranch offers an eagle walking tour. Find out about that at www.cheekyeranch.com. Mountain Skills Academy also offers eagle adventure for the whole family.

Find them at www.mountainskillsacademy.com.

Photo by Pierre Longnus

Photo by Joseph Jacobs, gettyimages.ca

Get inside

If you happen to come to Squamish for an outdoor adventure and instead it is a rainy, dreary day, you can still go out and enjoy the trails — locals do. (We aren’t made of sugar, after all!)

But if you want indoor excitement, there are great options, too.

At AirHouse Squamish you will find lots of jumping fun — literally. There are drop-in sessions to access the trampolines and the spring floor and a gymnastics area.

There is also a skateboarding area and, if you have a bit more time in town, you can sign up for skateboard, trampoline, parkour lessons, ski and snowboard lessons or take a turn on a golf simulator. Be sure to check in online before you go. Go to www.airhouse.ca/squamish to find out more and register.

What else is going on?

A fun fact about Squamish is that often amazing events are pulled together at close to the last minute — and after Discover Squamish goes to press. Thus, it is well worth the effort to go to our online events calendar at squamishchief. com, scroll down the homepage to find the latest and greatest local winter events at the bottom of the page. Or you can scan this quick and easy QR code and go there right now!

Photo by Ableimages

Photo by SolStock, gettyimages.ca

JOHNSON

Liesl Petersen in her 1976 28-foot Argosy travel trailer that she converted into a tiny home for her, her daughter Tenly White and boyfriend Allen Edwards.

Photo by David Buzzard

She and her daughter, then six, tried "the vanlife thing" — living in a vehicle down by the river — but that didn't seem ideal, she said. A step up was an old 1976 Airstream trailer that Petersen gutted and rebuilt into a tiny home and parked on a welcoming neighbour's land.

"I actually give my daughter a lot of credit for being superresilient," Petersen reflects with a laugh. While the child was jealous of her friends who had their own bedrooms, her friends were envious when they visited the Petersen family in their campingstyle abode.

Even things that were frustrating for an adult, such as when the pipes froze in winter, leaving them waterless, were fun for a kid. It meant a daily trip to the public pool for a swim and a shower.

They lived in the Airstream for five years, even increasing the population when Petersen's now-partner moved in. With double incomes, the family was soon able to move into more conventional digs. But the Airstream is still serving its purpose. Another single mom, this one with two kids, is now living in it.

"I think she's an absolute trouper," Petersen said of her Airstream successor. "But she's super grateful just to have somewhere affordable to live because she can't do the math and figure out how

she would be able to rent an apartment."

These are just two examples of many households working together and confronting inflationary prices in a region already among the world's most unaffordable places to live. Necessity being the mother of invention, Squamish folks seem to have pioneered some inventive means of overcoming the difficulties.

The District of Squamish is attempting to address the challenges of cost and affordability, as well as supply and demand, by encouraging what it calls "accessory dwelling units." These are more commonly known as basement suites, carriage homes or coach houses.

"We have been chipping away at any barriers that accessory dwelling units would face," said Jonas Velaniskis, the town's director of community planning. They are making it easier, he said, to put more units on a single property in the case of a new build and to retrofit or add extra space to existing homes.

Now, said Velaniskis, any single-family home in the District is eligible to add a suite and a carriage home. In the case of a duplex, for example, each side is permitted a suite, and the combined property may also have one carriage house, for a total of five housing units on what was originally zoned for two.

The District has also increased the maximum size for secondary suites, to 90 square metres, or almost 1,000 square feet. Carriage houses can range between 700 and 1,000 square feet, depending on the property size. The District has also reduced some of the setbacks that existed, meaning the distance that a building must be located away from the property line has been shortened, with the effect of allowing larger coach homes.

"If you've got a laneway in the back of the property, which a lot of our downtown streets have, you can put the carriage house almost all the way onto the laneway," he said. This is a change from previous regulations, which required several metres' setback.

After years of exorbitant housing prices, many jurisdictions are revisiting long-held assumptions about single-family neighbourhoods and other once-sacrosanct ideas in urban planning.

Like many single parents — and plenty of others — Liesl Petersen found Squamish an expensive place to live. Innovation was going to be key if she was going to make it happen.

More locals are trying communal living in Squamish during the current housing crunch.

Photo by FilippoBacci, gettyimages.ca

"I think there is a general realization, especially in Squamish where we don't have a lot of purpose-built rental projects, that our best way and our biggest stock of rental units is in the accessory dwelling unit market," said Velaniskis. "I don't think we're unique in the sense that we are trying to change regulations and make these kinds of dwelling units easier to build, but I think to the extent that we've gone is unique."

Allowing both a suite and a carriage home, for example, may be a step farther than a lot of other municipalities have gone.

The "vanlife thing" is, however, a step too far for the District, although they know it is happening.

"Camping is not permitted on streets, public lands, parks, parking lots or Crown lands and that includes Forest Service roads within the District of Squamish boundaries," he said. Velaniskis said the District is emphasizing alternatives. "What we're trying to do is create more housing so that people have more affordable options to live in buildings that have been designed for it."

As one example, the number of coach houses in town spiked from 560 in 2016 to almost 900 last year.

In addition to these most visible additions to the townscape, the District has taken steps to encourage more housing. They eliminated permit fees and associated municipal costs for secondary units, hoping that this would spur more folks to consider the opportunity.

Squamish, like other places in B.C., has also had to confront the impacts of short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, which have been snatching long-term rental housing and converting it into tourist accommodations.

"We just outright said you can't have short-term rental in a secondary suite or a coach house," Velaniskis said. "If you live in your house and you want to short-term rent while you're on vacation, or you want to short-term rent a room or two, you can do that with a business licence. You just can't do it in a secondary suite or a coach house."

Brian Wilkes is pleased with the growth of carriage homes. He is president of Modco Pacific Homes, a Squamish business that creates custom modular homes, studios and prefabricated structures. While most of his projects are vacation homes — many in difficult-toreach locations like the Gulf Islands — he hopes for more carriage homes in the future.

Modular homes like the ones Wilkes' company builds are ideal for remote locations where bringing in construction teams presents a challenge. With much of the construction taking place off-site, the modular homes take a small team less time to build once shipped to the property. That can make it more affordable. Modular homes are not necessarily cheaper than the conventional construction in the city, he noted, though it is definitely faster. He also clarifies that "modular" is too often mistaken for "mobile."

"A lot of people hear 'modular' and think mobile home or trailer park," he said. "That is certainly not what we do. They are built to a completely different standard. A modular home is built to the same standard as a regular site-built house. All the B.C. building codes apply." The difference is simply that much of the construction is done remotely then put together at the final site.

While his company makes plenty of structures that are typical family-sized homes, Wilkes said their method is ideal for smaller buildings like carriage homes. With downsizing elders, new families seeking an entry point into the market and just a changed emphasis on what is important, Wilkes sees a bigger market for smaller homes on the horizon. If the location of the build presents logistical difficulties, he said, modular construction is an especially good choice.

Wilkes is far from the only entrepreneur in town addressing the housing issue. This past summer, home builder Dave Ransier opened the doors to a new concept in shared accommodations. His purposebuilt property, called Responsible Living Squamish, is a two-storey home, each floor accommodating six residents, each with their own

room and ensuite, but with shared kitchens, common areas and large decks. Co-housing is a small but growing trend, though it is usually a co-op or equity model. This shared rental accommodation is scarce.

Realtor Angie Vazquez said her profession gives her interesting insights into how people live. She knows of two couples who realized they could have two separate not-so-awesome homes apart or, by living together and sharing the overhead, they could have a very nice home where they share a kitchen and common areas, as well as have a spare room when family come to visit.

More commonly, a lot of buyers are prioritizing secondary residences on the property, where two households can coexist adjacent, but not as intensely integrated as shared accommodations, Vasquez said. Whether for income, for in-laws or a nanny, a secondary suite or carriage home is among the top three things on her clients' wish lists — along with a yard and a garage.

At least one family she knows of is using a recreational vehicle as a guest cottage when folks come to stay, allowing family to remain close but not too close.

Petersen, the Airstream innovator, believes that addressing the cost of housing is not solely a family issue, but a community matter.

"Our working class is moving away because they can't afford to live here," she said. "It's a scary situation when everywhere we go they are understaffed because there's not enough people living here who want to work for a wage like that. There is still a huge demographic of really valuable people in our community who are working for $15 to $20 an hour and that's just not enough to pay $3,000 a month for rent."

These are people who work hard and are versatile, ready to live in alternative situations to make it happen, Petersen said. "But I feel like lately, a lot of things have been really hard for those people." 

"I actually give my daughter a lot of credit for being super-resilient"

Builder Dave Ransier at his communal housing complex.

Photo by Jennifer Thuncher

SEA TO SKY WINTER ACTIVITIES

indoors and out – bring folks together

PAT JOHNSON

Nothing brings people together like sports.

Even those on opposing teams are together in their enthusiasm for the game. Squamish and the entire Sea to Sky Corridor are worldrenowned for the many opportunities for adventures — solo or in groups, outdoors and in.

There are the obvious, and the less obvious.

Kick up your heels!

When most people think of this region,

dancing in heels may not be the first activity that comes to mind. But Vanessa Lalonde is changing that. With business partner Emily Taylor and a huge team of "glow givers," together known as Luminesque Dance, they are empowering people of all ages and genders to express themselves through dance.

They offer a range of dance styles, including drop-in classes and longerterm commitment, but Luminesque's centrepiece is heels dance.

"Our biggest thing that we do is a fivemonth dance program and it's focused on adults, 19-plus, who are learning or wanting to learn heels dance — the Beyoncé style of dancing," said Lalonde. "We do have some drop-in classes and workshops, but the majority of what we do is very community-based. We have quite a commitment to building a program that is about community, that is about working

together and building a bit of a relationship with yourself, with your body and with the people you're dancing with."

While the majority of participants are female, they welcome everyone.

"We have a big inclusivity and positivity clause ... so we offer scholarships to the BIPOC and LGBTQ community."

Luminesque brings people together, according to Lalonde, by drawing folks who are committed for a significant block of time. They learn together and put together a major performance piece offered to audiences in Squamish, Vancouver and sometimes in Victoria. Programs in Squamish take place at Glow Studios, which Lalonde and Taylor own, but share with other groups. They also have a Glow location in Vancouver, and they rent space to offer programs in North Vancouver and Victoria. Across all locations, the activities draw about 500 people per term.

The Sea to Sky Gondola bridge.

Photo courtesy of Sea to Sky Gondola

Glow Studios rents space for kids programs, but Luminesque is adultoriented.

"There are sexual themes that we work with, being in heels," she said. "Naturally, because we're talking about something that has a lot of sexual connotation, that comes from a history of sex work, we definitely work around a variety of themes of sexual sovereignty and reclamation and really creating a safe relationship with yourself, with your body."

The programs are fun, Lalonde stresses, but they can also be therapeutic.

"We really touch on things that open up and have a healing component to them," she said. Instructors are trained in a range of fields, some beyond the obvious.

"They learn about anatomy, they do kinesiology, they do trauma-informed training, they do so much around the full experience of community," said Lalonde.

The end-of-term performances may be polished and professional, Lalonde said, but the program is geared to beginners and founded on a simple idea: "Everyone is a dancer. All you have to do is dance."

Emily Kociolek had some preconceptions about the dance sector, but when she stepped into Luminesque she was pleasantly surprised.

"I didn't get dance teacher vibes," she said. "I don't want to stereotype, but there

Glow Studios rents space for kids programs, but Luminesque is adult-oriented.

Lindsey Blane, Instagram @lindseyblane

are certain dance teachers that kind of push for success and focus solely on the technical side of dancing, whereas I was welcomed with the sense that they didn't care about dancing ability."

Kociolek is only one of many for whom Luminesque was an entrée into a whole new social circle.

"There's girls there who go mountain climbing that have shared it with me; there's girls there who have said, you know what, let's go for a bike ride," she said. "We don't have to be that group of friends that hit the trails super-hard. Let's just spend some time hanging out."

Perhaps like everything else in Squamish, even heels dance leads to the great outdoors. Which, of course, opens the door to an almost limitless number of activities.

Pickleball anyone?

Something that has exploded in popularity in recent years in Squamish is pickleball. Long popular in sunnier climes, like Palm Springs and Arizona, the sport has taken off dramatically since Pickleball Squamish

was founded as a nonprofit less than five years ago.

When pickleball enthusiast Bob Pierce first tried to get some folks together for a game, he was stood up on a vacant tennis court, laughs Ken Tanner, a board member of the group. Things have changed.

"Right now, we have just over 100 people actively playing as members of the club in Squamish," he said. "Really, it was organic, friend to friend. Bob got it going and it bloomed until Brennan Park couldn't handle us anymore." In addition to Brennan, they now also play on designated courts at Eaglewind Park and, in winter, indoors at Quest University.

Tanner said pickleball is popular with people of all ages because it takes skill but is not as hard on the joints as tennis.

"It's a very quick reaction sport, very fast-moving," he said. "You've got to be really alert to play pickleball [but] it's not as exhausting as tennis. Tennis is a lot of running and a lot of hard-hitting, whereas in pickleball there is less running. The courts are smaller and it's more of a game of finesse, more a game of skill than of

power. It's more attractive to people who don't have shoulders the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger."

He adds: "They say it is quick to learn and slow to master."

"It's also extremely social," Tanner continued. "We have a really good time. We have set times that we play as a club and will have 20, 30 or 40 people out to play and it's a blast."

Players can come solo or bring the whole family. The local high school brings scores of kids for gym classes.

"Even a young teenager can play pretty well," Tanner said. "They can beat me."

Get outside!

While heels dance and pickleball may be fresh ideas for a lot of Squamish folks, there are, of course, the many standbys for which the region is known.

Whistler Olympic Park — a legacy from the 2010 world games that put the area on the map for anyone left who had not heard of it — offers a vast array of outdoor activities for the public. The meat-andpotatoes of the park, is nurturing the next generations of competitive international athletes representing Canada. But that in no way detracts from the welcome they extend to locals (and visitors) looking for a day in the outdoors.

Solo and group activities include crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and biathlon. There's also tobogganing, perhaps the classic Canadian family winter activity. Chariots are available for parents to haul the youngsters behind as they ski or snowshoe for the kids who are too young to take to the trails themselves.

Whistler Olympic Park has a full network of dog-friendly trails, which means the whole family can truly participate.

Likewise, Callaghan Country, another wilderness adventure destination north of Squamish that is open to those on two legs as well as four. In addition to advanced trails for the experienced, there are easier options for the beginner snowshoer or skier. Suites and rooms are available at the Journeyman Lodge, as are rib-sticking meals at what they declare "one of the most isolated and picturesque dining rooms in the Whistler area."

Closer to Squamish — just look up! — is the Sea to Sky Gondola, which has become an all-season destination. Perhaps no season is more evocative, though, than winter.

"When it's raining down the valley, it's snowing up of the summit," promises Christy Allan, the gondola's director of sales, marketing and guest services.

Winter outdoor activities include snowshoeing, tubing and just plain goofing around in the snow.

"It's getting up into a winter wonderland with your friends and family," Allan said.

New this year is the grooming of the backroad trails daily, which will allow people to bring up cross-country skis.

Pickleball has become a popular Squamish sport. Pettet, gettyimages.ca

Not all the fun is outdoors. The lodge with the view of the entire valley is always a draw, but in winter, it is decked out with holiday décor and there will even be photos with Santa. "Sunday Socials" are a weekend afternoon special occasion with music and relaxation. After the sun goes down, there will be headlamp snowshoe tours.

It's hard to imagine two activities more unalike than heels dancing and snowshoeing … but that is a testament to the diversity of goings-on available in this corner of the planet!

Photo by ArtMarie, gettyimages.ca

Photo by Fat Camera, gettyimages.ca

WORKING TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL WELCOME IN SQUAMISH

PAT JOHNSON

appropriate clothing, but women also gave her earrings, cosmetics and "some girl stuff" that really helped. Local guys collected new outfits for Zarutskyi.

"It was very sweet," Kompaniiets said. Others in the community provided gift cards to grocery stores, an acupuncturist provided free services and a physical therapist worked on Kompaniiets' leg and shoulder, which she had injured before coming to Canada.

Employment was a major challenge. Kompaniiets sent out many resumes, but got no callbacks. One of her new local friends walked her around town and, together, they quickly obtained a sales position for her at a lingerie shop.

Anzhela

Kompaniiets and her partner, Anton Zarutskyi, were temporarily working in the Czech Republic and saving money for further travels when their home country of Ukraine was subjected to a full-scale invasion by its larger neighbour in February.

Their status was complicated because, since they were already abroad when the war began, recognition of their refugee status was complicated.

While searching internet sites, including one for Canadians seeking to help Ukrainians, Kompaniiets and Zarutskyi discovered a network of folks who ultimately helped the pair make their way to Squamish.

Their hosts provided a great deal of the necessities they needed. But they had arrived in May with little other than winter clothes, so a Facebook post was put out asking for some more appropriate garb. Not only did Kompaniiets receive seasonally

The couple are settling in, though fears for the future, including their families left back in Ukraine, is a constant worry. But they are grateful for the community of support that has enveloped them.

They don't know what the future holds. They have three-year work permits, but they are not making any long-term plans.

"Everything depends on what's going on in my country," Kompaniiets said. "It's not going well there for now, but we'll see."

Squamish has seen a great number of new arrivals in recent years — most from

Members of the Pride Squamish Society on the Cleveland Avenue rainbow crosswalk.

Photo by David Buzzard

locations less exotic than Ukraine, like Kitsilano or Toronto. But, no matter the place of origin or the unique experiences of the newcomers, there are individuals and groups in town making it their business to welcome them.

Squamish Welcome Centre seeks to be a bridge between the existing community and immigrants and newcomers, and to support them as they transition to a new home, by providing access to services and resources, and serving as a bridge connecting them to the community.

Squamish Newcomer Services, a partner organization to the Squamish Welcome Centre, provides confidential services in a range of languages on topics including immigration, citizenship, applying for or extending work permits, employment, housing and more.

The two organizations provide a hub for accessing almost anything new arrivals might need. If they can't help, they will direct people to those who can. But they also stress that, while services are aimed at new Canadians and new Squamishers, most programs are open to all. For example, a recent program that filled to capacity was for digital newbies.

"One of the programs that we have is the digital divide project, offering free computer classes for beginners," said Tanager, who is co-ordinator of the Welcome Centre.

(She only has one name.)

"This is really for beginners. It's for people who have either never had their own internet-enabled device before or who maybe have access to one but don't have the skills to use it," she said.

Tanager herself is a relative newcomer to Squamish, originally from southern Oregon but was drawn here as a rock climber.

"Highway 99 runs through my hometown," she said, joking that, although in a different country, she is still on the same street.

The Welcome Centre has a used bookstore and a computer lab that is open for all to print, scan or copy. Free public wifi is available for everyone, including those

just passing through town who may not have Canadian digital connections.

While her job is to make Squamish as welcoming as possible, Tanager admits there is work to be done – including systemic challenges like the cost of living.

"It's hard to live here, financially," she said.

For "those of us who like our sun," she adds, winters can be tough. Then there is something she has noticed about the social scene.

"It's very easy to form friendships here based on common activities," she said. "But it is much harder to find friendships here based on values that are shared. I think it is lovely to go out and do things with other people, but that's not the only type of connection that I value. I think Squamish is maybe a little lacking on the social and political engagement."

group does annually is a Progress Pride flag-raising at Municipal Hall in September. Other activities take place throughout the year.

While LGBTQ+ groups in many communities throw all or most of their resources into a big Pride parade or festival, Pride Squamish is taking a somewhat different approach, according to Britt Martell, who is secretary and acting vice president of the group.

Partly because Squamish is just a short drive from Vancouver, which hosts one of the world's largest and most boisterous Pride parades and festivals over the B.C. Day weekend each year, organizers here don't try to compete. There are other factors as well.

"Squamish isn't quite where it needs to be for a big parade like that to be safe for everybody who participates," said Martell.

Rather than focus on one big blowout celebration, Martell said, the group decided to look at "what other work is needed in Squamish and how can we support the growth that we need to see in our community."

Challenges remain. The group has to respond to hateful comments on their own social media platforms and unfortunate incidents are not unknown in town, Martell said.

"I think that Squamish has come a long way," said Martell. "We're not necessarily in a bad place."

For all the services the centre provides, Tanager notes that the space itself creates opportunity for building community.

"The Squamish Welcome Centre, just by being an open space, can serve as a hub for people to connect with other people … and not just for newcomers," she said.

Another important group that is making Squamish welcoming and inclusive is Pride Squamish. Formally constituted only three years ago, the group is a mainstay in planting the flag of diversity in town.

Planting the flag is more than a metaphor. One of the celebrations the

Making it a better place, though, is the aim of a raft of initiatives the group offers, from a recent drag workshop to monthly "Pride Socials." An evolving list of resources is on the website, online training and resources are being developed, and the group's merchandise helps increase visibility.

Pride Squamish is trying to make the community safer and more welcoming for everybody, said Martell. "Because, when people are their full selves, the world is just a better place because you are using less energy to try to fit into something and you're instead using your energy to be the best version of yourself." 

"I think that Squamish has come a long way," said Martell. "We're not necessarily in a bad place."

BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER IN MUSIC, SONG AND THEATRE

But outdoor recreation is only a part of the heart of this town. Arts and culture have a long, deep history in these parts, which may be surprising to some. For decades, thespians, musicians and other performers have been interpreting their visions for audiences.

Veronica McPhee is at the heart of two of the oldest cultural groups in town. She is a board member of the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association and music director of Sea to Sky Singers.

Howe Sound Performing Arts Association brings world-class musicians and performers to the area, while developing local talent, especially among young people.

“This year will be our 30th year,” said McPhee. “Right now, we’re going through strategic planning and rediscovering and reframing what we offer the community.”

The group hosts and produces the Howe Sound Music Festival, which features piano, voice and choral experiences. They also hire professional teachers to offer master classes to aspiring locals.

The association runs the gamut both in showcasing seasoned performers and developing new talent and in the variety of genres they include.

“We’ve had quite a strong tradition of classical music performances,” said McPhee. “But, as well, we’ve hosted jazz, we’ve hosted some comedians, a little bit of dance. We try to offer all of that. We do also really like to focus on locals, so we often will have a multi-performer show every year that includes locals performing. That will take on different themes. Sometimes it’s more classically based; sometimes, it’s more folksy-based or jazz-influenced. Primarily, we are producers, so we try to focus on presenting other people’s work.”

While the performing arts association as an organization is completely distinct from the Sea to Sky Singers, there is some crossover in the membership, just because the size of the community, McPhee explained.

While the organizations have both been busy for decades, the town has changed around them, growing and changing, with people leaving and new folks arriving.

“There’s been a lot of change within Squamish, so we’re really proud of the fact that we have been able to adapt,” she said. “It’s very grassroots in both of the organizations. The energy comes from the people that are involved every particular year. That’s kind

When people think of Squamish, many imagine Howe Sound vistas, soaring cliffs, and windswept whitecaps.

PAT JOHNSON

Sea to Sky Singers rehearse.

Photo by David Buzzard

of how we take our direction and our forward movement.”

Typically around 30 to 40 members sing with the choir in two formal concerts a year. One is generally around the winter holidays, the other in spring.

“Usually in those shows, we have some other guest or other multimedia interaction with the show,” said McPhee. In one recent iteration, the music was about art and colour, and there were three artists painting during the performance. In the end, the art was auctioned off.

The Howe Sound Performing Arts Association focuses on producing events, while the Sea to Sky Singers draws locals who make a major time commitment — about two hours a week usually — as they develop their offerings for the public.

“One thing I really love about Sea to Sky Singers is we are an unauditioned adult choir,” she said, “so people from lots of different walks of life, lots of different experiences musically, can come together and create something that’s very high quality and very meaningful.”

One message McPhee wants to get out into the community is that both the groups are always on the lookout for new faces.

“Both of those organizations are very open and welcome to meeting new people,” she said. “Sometimes we take for granted that everybody knows who we are because we’ve been here this long, but there are so many people that are new to this town who haven’t found us yet, so we’d like people to find us.” Both groups are easy to contact online.

Another longstanding arts institution is Between Shifts Theatre. Begun as Howe Sound Players more than 30 years ago, the original mastermind, Kathryn Daniels, is still on the board and remains an artistic influence.

While focused on an ambitious series of offerings this season, the troupe is also very much committed to rebuilding its base, said Amy Reid, of Between Shifts Theatre Society.

Reid is on the board of directors and is a regular actor, director and producer with the society.

“Many people have sort of been priced out of the community and moved away and we’ve lost quite a few members,” she said. “One of our big goals of the year is recruitment because, with all the people who have left Squamish, there’s dozens more who have arrived, so we’re looking for new ways to be able to connect with those potential members.”

This year, the stage performances include “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” by Sarah Ruhl, which Reid describes as a “quirky look at how we communicate.” The winter feature is “Blustery Ever After,” a sequel of sorts to last year’s “Once Upon a Cold Snap,” both written by Katherine Fawcett. Edward Albee’s “Three Tall Women” runs in spring, and the final offering is five one-act plays being staged at the end of May.

Sewn in between these mainstage productions is the “Chair Series,” three events spread across the calendar featuring eight monologues by different performers, all written by North Vancouver writer John McGie. Reid acknowledges that these series of soliloquies may be hard to wrap one’s head around before sitting down in the theatre but promises audiences will never forget the experiences.

“Some of them are so hilarious and some of them are so heartbreaking,” said Reid. “The tagline for that is ‘Theatre for the short attention span,’ because if you don’t like it you’re five minutes around to another story.”

The all-volunteer troupe is on the lookout for people with a diversity of interests.

“If somebody wants to be on the stage, if somebody is interested in sitting on the board, if somebody is interested in creating props or painting sets, you name it, we would love to meet them and have them as part of our group,” she said. “It’s a really, really great group of welcoming people of all levels of experience, from professionals to people who have never had anything to do with the theatre before. I think what makes it so magical is how welcoming they are, no matter what people’s background is.”

It’s a great family activity, she added, because there is something for every age. Reid’s own daughter got dragged along to rehearsals at a young age and now is herself deeply involved in Between Shifts. 

SHARING – food –MEANS CARING IN SQUAMISH

Photo by David Buzzard

PAT JOHNSON

But in an era when nourishment sometimes means scarfing down drive-thru sack food, some Squamish culinarians are celebrating the idea of relaxing with friends and genuinely savouring the food before us.

Whether replenishing after a long hike or lingering over a leisurely midday repast, shared attention to what we eat — and who we share it with — is one of life's small joys.

When Pat Allan, director and sommelier of The Salted Vine Kitchen + Bar, dines out, he moves the plates to the centre of the table and he and his companions share the offerings.

"You talk about the food. It becomes a focal point, and it brings everybody together," he said.

At his own upscale Pacific Northwest dining room, no one will bat an eye if you move your plate to the centre of the table. But they also have plenty of items on the card that are explicitly designed for mutual enjoyment.

"We offer charcuterie boards, cheese boards, seafood platters, oysters on the half shell — they are all shareable items," he said. "People make a connection over food when they share it."

Sharing is cosy — and ideal for the colder months, when Salted Vine's kitchen turns attention to more braised dishes, root vegetables and mushrooms, always with an eye to seasonality and freshness, he said.

Salted Vine is the destination for a fancy evening out, but the Crabapple Café, up the road in Brackendale, is all about getting

ready for the day ahead.

Specializing in brunches and lunches, Crabapple's Chris Brook sees something special in the slow enjoyment of friends and food.

"If you're out for an evening meal, there is usually an agenda to it," said Brook. "More often than not, it's going to watch a game or to meet up with different people. Brunch is just … let's get brunch. We've got some time. It's super-social that way."

Beyond the food and the laid-back ambience, Brook says one of the attractions of his space is the barely-off-the-beatenpath location.

"You have to come out and find us," he said. "But I think a lot of people like that because there's an opportunity to go further afield. It's also just off the highway, so when people are passing through Squamish or back down from Whistler, they like to stop in quite often and it's not very far — just off the highway."

His own favourite dish right now is the beef short rib hash, but his chef is always working on weekly specials.

"We just put a special out this morning," he said recently. "Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Oh my God, it's amazing. Maybe we need to put this on the permanent menu."

Although you wouldn't think French toast or pancakes are "shared" plates, Brook said he often sees couples splitting the jumbo orders.

He bought the restaurant in the midst of the pandemic, but he was philosophical about the challenge.

"If we can make this work during this time we can make it work any time," he recalls thinking. "Let's take the risk."

Crabapple Café will be "winterizing" the menu as the weather cools.

"There won't be huge changes," he said. "It's pretty cosy right now."

A similar vibe is on the menu at Timberwolf Restaurant and Lounge. "Welcoming and calm" are the words Mayson Lees uses to describe the place. The restaurant manager strives to make the place "a welcoming experience for guests of all age ranges."

Appetizers and shared plates are great for everyone to dig into, but she notices a younger crowd really eats up the platters of mixed snacks they offer.

"We're looking to do a share platter with different appetizers through the winter months, so some jalapeno poppers, different varieties of fries and wings … We've got a lot of different great appetizers that are great share plates."

Their pizzas – "I'm a little bit biased but I think we have some of the best pizzas in town," she said – are perennial shareables.

Timberwolf is also a destination for group get-togethers. A recent evening saw a big birthday party sharing the space with an even bigger day-after-wedding wind-down. A California-based tour company stops by frequently with crowds of globetrotters on their way to explore the Sea to Sky.

"We are really looking forward to Christmas party season," said Lees." 

The term "breaking bread" is a figurative and literal reference to the centrality of food in human relations.

Squamish's Andrea Bourgh and Jenifer Schulli toast to good cheer over charcuterie at the Salted Vine.

Photo by David Buzzard

SQUAMISH PUBS DRAW US (back) TOGETHER

PAT JOHNSON

Squamish pubs, distillers, cideries and other hangouts are going out of their way to bring folks together after too long apart.

All of the social houses in town are intended as places to kick back with pals. But most are throwing something into the mix to add to the interpersonal excitement.

The Cork and Craft Taphouse has weekend music nights, usually featuring a solo performer. These can be enjoyed alongside innovative menu offerings that include gluten-free and vegan options.

Match Eatery and Public House, located adjacent Chances Casino, is a destination for sports games, as well as daily specials like fish and chips and food truck tacos.

At The Backyard , karaoke and trivia alternate, alongside classic pub food and libations (including off-sales).

In addition to off-the-beaten-path taste sensations like a peach-passionfruit cider or a ginger-infused Tina Louise (if you’re too young to get it, Google it), Cliffside Cider offers occasional live music, taking the party to the lot outdoors when the weather permits.

The Cleveland Tavern offers live music ranging from hip-hop to yeehaw, plus football games and themed socials.

Howe Sound Brewing also often has live music.

UFC fans head to the Shady Tree Pub, as do those hankering for pub food and

Occasionally, we like to put down our devices and interact with other humans over some potent potables.

Friends gather at A-Frame.

Photo by David Buzzard

Italian standbys like lasagna and spaghetti Bolognese.

Norman Rudy’s offers trivia nights and music bingo alongside burgers, pub fare and their meaty braised boneless short rib with hoisin BBQ sauce.

Perhaps no space goes to so much effort to liven up the libations as A-FRAME Brewing, which claims to have brought pub trivia to town. A-FRAME evokes the get-away-from-it-all motif of a wilderness cabin.

Luke Gullett, taproom manager at A-FRAME, acknowledges he didn’t understand Canadian cabin culture. It wasn’t big in the U.K., where he comes from. But the cabinesque cosiness of A-FRAME captured his imagination — and became his employer after he got stranded here when COVID hit in March 2020.

“I wasn’t supposed to live in Canada at all,” he said. He arrived to visit friends on March 7 of that fateful year.

“Within two weeks, the whole country shut down,” he recalls (as do we all).

A wildlife biologist, Gullett’s geographical shift included a career shift, as he transitioned from one kind of wildlife to another, from working with sea turtles off West Africa to serving up fun to Sea to Sky locals and passersthrough.

A-FRAME aims for a cabin feel, but where your family’s chalet might have had stacks of board games, this one has a sort

Squamish pubs draw people together with games and music.

Photo by Drazen Zigic, gettyImages.ca

of artisanal rec room vibe. Routine trivia is over. With Gullett’s science roots and the eclectic interests and demographics of the town they serve, trivia here has evolved in the weirdest ways. There’s 'Seinfeld' quote trivia, which is not that odd. But computer terms, engineering trivia and Medieval covers of pop songs are more arcane.

A monthly vinyl night, when a local aficionado brings parts of his collection to spin, is a big draw — and everyone is welcome to bring along their own platters

(sort of like an after-school record club, for those who didn’t need to Google Tina Louise).

Some of the most unusual activities last winter took place when A-FRAME partnered with local social enterprise The Wilder for “Crafts and Drafts.” One event involved creating paper with embedded seeds, which can be put in the ground, so wildflowers soon pop up. Another night involved clay crafting, and on another occasion, participants made terrariums.

It’s a great rainy-day activity they hope to bring back this season, said Gullett.

A-FRAME is also a destination for birthday parties and other celebrations.

The place goes a step beyond the cabin motif, offering outdoor fires on the patio as long as the weather isn’t too ridiculous.

After a couple of years when socializing was either outright forbidden or fraught with fears of airborne dangers, many are looking to make up for lost time. Squamish pubs are aiming to make it extra fun. 

Tavern offers

ranging from hip-hop to yeehaw, plus football games and themed socials.

Photo by David Buzzard

SQUAMISH IS POOCH FRIENDLY

PAT JOHNSON

Laura McAlduff with Pancha.

Photo courtesy of Sea to Sky Canine Training

Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses. Humans have about six million. If you think Squamish is a sensory thrill for bipeds, imagine supplementing the sights, sounds and feels of the area with 50 times the snout power.

In other words, Squamish is a doggy Disneyland. In addition to the fun of the people and fellow canines downtown (not to mention the wafting scents from bakeries and bistros), there are water bodies to be swam in, forests to be run

through and an endless world to explore right outside the door.

It is said that dogs are humans’ best friends, but even most of our best (human) friends don’t have the impact on our lives that a dog does. Did you know that people with dogs have lower levels of stress, depression and blood pressure? Dog people are less likely to have a heart attack — and more likely to survive if they do have one.

Dogs help us deal with crises.

Squamish is a pretty friendly place at the best of times. But next time you are downtown, grab a seat in a café and watch out the window as people and dogs pass by. You will see dogs enthusiastically greeting other dogs. But do you see how dogs introduce their people to other people?

Studies show what most dog people already knew: Dogs build community. We may not know our neighbours’ names, but we know they are Hermione’s mom or Barkley’s dad.

Of course, raising a dog that is a good citizen takes some effort and entertaining

Local

The

• Keep an identification tag

town.

Identification is your pet’s ticket back home. Licences are a requirement in Squamish and must be renewed each year and displayed on your dog’s collar.

• Don't let your pets run loose. Dogs must be walked on leash; it’s the law and a fineable offence. Not everyone is dog friendly, nor should they have to be.

• Obedience train and

animal.

• Make sure your pet gets the proper amount of exercise.

• Take extra precautions during holidays like Halloween. This is a scary time for pets. Make sure your pets are safe and secure indoors.

• Scoop the poop! Please clean up after your dog and dispose of the waste appropriately.

Anyone with a dog knows that the morning walk is as much about the smells as about the exercise.

them for a lifetime can take a village. Fortunately, Squamish is just the “village” to make a dog’s life everything it can be.

Laura McAlduff, owner of Sea to Sky Canine Training , uses a “humane and science-based approach” working with dogs and helping dogs and their people understand each other. One of the things that makes Squamish an ideal place to raise a dog is that, well, almost everybody’s doing it!

“Everybody seems to have a dog,” she said. “When it comes to people understanding the lifestyle with dogs, you look around, and everybody seems to get it. Not to mention the space that we have around us in the ability of our dogs to access cool water and decompression trails and play with other dogs.”

Many of the dogs McAlduff works with are those who require a little extra help. As a BC SPCA AnimalKind certified trainer, among other accreditations, she is one of the people in town that dog parents call when their pet seems to need lessons in dealing with other dogs, people or life in general. She offers training for reactive and fearful dogs, recent rescues and newly

adopted puppies. She also offers walking services, specializing in those who can be a challenge on a leash.

Sometimes, however, it is not the dogs who need a bit of training. While emphatic that Squamish is an ideal place for dogs, McAlduff notes that successful interactions between and among dogs and people require humans to behave appropriately too.

“There's a pretty basic dog etiquette, and I wish it were more well-known,” she said. “If you see a dog that's on a leash, leash your dog so that we’re not having unnecessary altercations in public spaces with dogs. A lot of people seem to lose sight of that basic etiquette and being aware of their surroundings and respecting other people's needs.”

“Dogs definitely do — or can — bring people together,” said McAlduff. As Squamish becomes more densified, it is increasingly important that basic rules of behaviour for animals and their people are widely recognized and respected, she said.

Among the other professionals working with dogs in town is Cheryl Barchuk, whose Barchuk's K9 Services offers dog

training, pack walks, private walks and homestay boarding.

Although she didn’t really need to be reminded, Barchuk saw the power of a dog in action recently after her sister adopted a German shepherd puppy.

“I walked him the other day, and this person was having an off day,” she recalled. A quick whuffle from the pooch made a cloudy moment brighter. “The second with my sister's dog just made her feel better, changed her mood and made her day. It's crazy to see the change dogs can bring to people with a small sniff, a pat — it's the small things that make the difference.”

The trails around town are used by a variety of species for a range of activities, and this holds the potential for conflict.

But Barchuk has been pleasantly surprised at the openness of people like mountain bikers and dirt bikers to share the space.

“Even though they made the trails, they're willing to share with us,” she said. “They'll shut their engine off, let us walk past.”

For those Squamish folks who do not yet have a canine family member but are thinking about it, Barchuk recommends

Dog trainer Cheryl Barchuck.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Barchuck/ Barchuk's K9 Services

doing some research.

“Look at your lifestyle and what you're able to do for a specific dog,” she said. “If you've got a border collie and you work a lot, you might not be able to provide for the needs that the higher energy dog will have.”

If you have a backyard, that might open the door to certain breeds that like more outdoor time. Apartment dwellers might prefer some smaller breeds that are homebodies. But Barchuk suggests considering other factors. A dog with separation anxiety could be a problem in an apartment if they bark a lot when left alone. Animals that are afraid of unfamiliar people or elevators might not be ideal for condo living, for example.

Different breeds are known for specific characteristics, but do the research because some assumptions may be misguided. Small dogs are not necessarily easier to care for. A great dane is an enormous beast and loves a good walk, but they are also notorious layabouts. For sedentary people, this ginormous hulk might be better than a smaller but more demanding dog.

“I just find the most important thing about having a dog is creating that bond between you and the dog,” said Barchuk. “That can be more important than even exercising it all the time. If you can have that bond with a dog, your relationship will change.” 

Laura McAlduff with Pancha.

Photo courtesy of Sea to Sky Canine Training

ACCOMMODATION

1 Sandman Hotel & Suites, 39400 Discovery Way 604-848-6000 sandmanhotels.com

ATTRACTIONS

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

AUTOMOTIVE

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

BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES

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

CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS

5 Cordelia’s Locket 38038 Loggers Lane 604-898-1997 cordeliaslocket.com

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

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

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

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

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

11 Top Hat 40386 Tantalus Road 604-898-9191

12 The Nest 41340 Government Road 604-898-4444 thenestrest.com

13 The Watershed Grill 41101 Government Road 604-898-6665 thewatershedgrill.com

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

CUSTOM CABINETRY

15 Suncoast Kitchen & Bath Ltd. 37824 2 Ave 604-892-9108 suncoastkitchens.ca

MORTGAGE

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

REAL ESTATE

17 Finch Drive Development DHDev. Finchdrive.com

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

19 Rennie 38166 Cleveland Avenue 604-682-2088 rennie.com/neighbourhoods/squamish

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

21 Tom Malpass Personal Real Estate Corporation 778-866-1500 tommalpass.com

RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

22 Brennan Park Recreation Centre 1009 Centennial Way 604-898-3604 squamish.ca

Emergency: 911 RCMP: 604-892-6100

Squamish Municipal Hall: 604-892-5217

Squamish General Hospital: 604-892-5211

Dog Pound: 604-815-6866

23 The 55 Activity Centre 1201 Village Green Way 604-848-6898 squamishseniorscentre.com

RETAIL

24 Anna’s Interiors 38052 Cleveland Avenue 604-892-6369 annasinteriors.ca

25 Canadian Tire 1851 Mamquam Road 604-898-2227 canadiantire.ca

26 Chieftain Centre Mall 1339 Pemberton Avenue Squamish

27 Garibaldi Village 40204-40282 Glenalder Place garibaldivillage.com

28 Joe’s Fireplace Products 1121 Commercial Pl #105 604-892-9800 seatoskyfireplace.com

29 Marks 40270 Glenalder Place 604-892-5855 marks.com

SCHOOLS

30 Coast Mountain Academy 3295 Mamquam Rd 604-390-3262 coastmountainacademy.ca

31 School District 48 School Board Office 37866 Second Avenue 604-892-5228 sd48seatosky.org

VISITOR SERVICES

32 Squamish Public Library 37907 Second Avenue 604-892-3110 squamish.bc.libraries.coop

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