$91,000 ANNUALLY: THE GROSS FAMILY INCOME NEEDED FOR BASICS IN SQUAMISH
Sea to Sky MLA candidates weigh in on the living wage and making life more affordable for locals
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
You need to make $25.13 per hour in Squamish to survive as a young family.
The living wage, meaning the hourly income that both working parents with two young children must earn to meet basic expenses, was calculated by local charity Squamish Community Foundation in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Living Wage for Families BC.
The foundation notes that “basic expenses” include rent, child care, food and transportation after government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies are taken into account.
It does not include debt repayment or savings. Put another way, the 2023 Living Wage Update report shows a family of four in Squamish must earn a gross household income of $91,000.
The report notes that paying for housing alone takes approximately $2,600 per month from a family’s budget, while food eats up about $1,300 per month.
This 2023 report is the first time the foundation has completed this study.
“The living wage is a powerful tool that communicates how much workers need to earn to lead a
LIVING WAGE: Continued on 2
PHOTO BY JOHAN BRANDHORST-SATZKORN
SPOT THE BEAR CUB: As we enter August, the bears get more intent on feeding as they start to prepare for hibernation. Be sure to keep your garbage locked up and dogs on a leash.
fulfilling life,” said Karen Clarke, the executive director of the Squamish Community Foundation, in a news release.
“By championing a living wage, the Squamish Community Foundation is advocating for economic justice. Our goal is to highlight what our community members need in order to pursue their aspirations without the worry of financial instability.”
The foundation also aims to encourage the municipality and businesses to become certified living wage employers.
Sk_wx_wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) has been such an employer since July 2020.
“Being a living wage employer helps us show that we value our employees by ensuring they earn enough to take care of their families and also build a strong and healthy Squamish Nation community,” said K’ana Deborah Baker, a councillor with the Nation, in the release.
“We strongly encourage all other employers in the community to join us in becoming a living wage employer.”
‘AFFORDABILITY CRISIS’
Squamish Chamber of Commerce executive director Anne MacKenzie told The Squamish Chief that the chamber doesn’t track which of its member businesses are living wage employers, but she was happy to see the stats on it.
“It is great to see numbers that are specific to Squamish for the first time,” she said. “If you look at how they calculated the living wage, you’ll see that the three largest expenses on the list are housing, food and child care. What this says to me is what we really have is an affordability crisis.”
MacKenzie argued that putting the onus on small business owners to bridge that gap is coming at the problem from the wrong direction.
“Putting pressure on business owners who may already be working with a small profit margin, or on reduced hours because they can’t find staff, is not a viable solution. It has the possibility of destabilizing the business, which means people lose their jobs, and everyone is right back where
they started,” she said.
“Our goal is to continue to support a growing and resilient business community, and I think we would be better off solving this particular problem by addressing the issues of affordable living. Our Business Advocacy Committee meets regularly to examine the challenges of the current business climate and really look at where we can have a tangible impact on raising awareness and seeking solutions.”
‘EXCEEDED THE LIVING WAGE VALUE’
The District of Squamish told The Squamish Chief that its employees are compensated in ways beyond the hourly wage offered.
“A living wage figure refers to a base salary dollar value; however, many employers, such as the District of Squamish, also compensate employees through employer-paid benefits, which helps to lower the cost-of-living expenses overall,” said the District’s spokesperson Rachel Boguski in an emailed statement.
She added that the wages paid to District employees include either a comprehensive benefits package or a percentage of salary in lieu of benefits on top of their base salary.
“At the last review of the District’s compensation package, all categories of the total compensation exceeded the living wage value for Squamish,” she said.
Boguski noted that the municipality does not have the jurisdiction to enforce the adoption of a living wage by local employers.
“We can provide this information so that Squamish employers understand the recommended living wage, so that those bringing their businesses to Squamish can account for the living wage, and so that talent moving to Squamish have a clearer picture of the wages they should likely seek in order to be able to live and work locally.”
WHAT THE SEA TO SKY MLA CANDIDATES SAY
Jen Ford, NDP
Asked what she would do to make life more affordable in the Sea to Sky, Jen Ford, who is running for the BC NDP to become the West
Vancouver-Sea to Sky member of the Legislature, said her party wants to tackle the root causes of the current cost of living crisis.
“Times are tough, and people and businesses are facing global challenges like inflation. That’s why the BC NDP has taken action to tackle the root causes of the cost of living crisis and put money in your pocket: cutting the cost of child care in half, eliminating MSP premiums, supporting skills training so people can get good jobs, lowering ICBC rates by $500 per year, boosting the BC Family Benefit and helping with prescription medications,” she said, in an emailed statement.
“The [living wage] report shows that many people in Squamish are finding themselves leaving the region due to a high cost of housing. Recent changes in housing legislation is one way to address this: implementing a nation-leading set of reforms that is taking on speculators and brings in tough new restrictions on short-term rentals. Our actions are coming into effect now and will lead to the creation of more townhouses, duplexes and homes near transit, building 300,000 homes throughout B.C. that middle-class people can afford.”
Ford added that she knows that there is more to do.
In terms of how her party supports small businesses so they can offer a living wage, Ford pointed to B.C.’s positive standing.
“There is much more to do in this area, but we are an economic leader in Canada, with the highest wages in the country. We also have the highest minimum wage of all the provinces in the country,” she said.
She added that the report also shows that 70% of employers in Squamish struggle to attract and retain workers; Ford said the NDP has acted to try and make things easier so that these businesses can make ends meet.
She listed: making 90% of businesses fully exempt from the employer’s health tax; providing low electricity rates and delivering savings to small and medium businesses; keeping the small business tax 25% lower than when the BC United Party were in government; adding more skills training and more available, lower cost child care.
JEREMY VALERIOTE, BC GREEN PARTY
Jeremy Valeriote, the BC Green Party Candidate for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, told The Squamish Chief he supports the Squamish living wage.
“As BC Green MLA, I would push for measures to bring down the costs of housing, child care, transportation and food, while acknowledging that rising unaffordability is a symptom of problems that have been ignored for too long,” he said.
“Addressing the causes means fixing 40 years of misguided housing policy and building non-market housing at scale; providing choices in how we get around, so not everyone has to drive (or be driven); and seriously addressing climate change, which is making it harder to farm in B.C., making produce more expensive and undermining our food security.”
Valeriote said on transit, the Greens are calling for the expansion of both Squamish’s local public transit system and the “longoverdue” implementation of regional transit from Pemberton to Vancouver.
“I’ve campaigned on the issue for four years, alongside all the local governments and First Nations in our riding. Unfortunately, neither the NDP nor the [BC United Party] before them have been prepared to make the needed investment. Viable transit services are essential for families struggling to pay for multiple cars, and needing affordable options,” he said.
For renters, he noted that the party has called for the BC Rental Assistance income threshold to be raised from $40,000 to $70,000, as well as expanding eligibility for seniors to the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program.
“We are also the only party proposing vacancy control, which would link rent hikes to the property rather than the tenant, meaning the ‘recent moving penalty’ would be removed, and the incentive for landlords to evict to raise rents is eliminated,” he said.
LIVING WAGE: Continued from 1 LIVING WAGE: Continued on 3
GOT NEWS?
Email your news tip or story idea to: jthuncher@squamishchief.com iLemayConway@squamishchief.com
CLIMBERS REMEMBERED: FUNDS RAISED FOR CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE
GoFundMe campaign exceeds $10,000, half going to Squamish SAR, half for two men who died in Garibaldi Provincial Park
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Squamish Search and Rescue is grateful for the pledge made by the families of two of the men who died in Garibaldi Provincial Park to donate funds to the organization.
A GoFundMe campaign, “Remembering Chris Gulka and Jon Büchner,” set up by a friend of the men, Lukas Mann, aims to raise funds for celebrations of life for the men and support for Squamish SAR.
The campaign is signed on behalf of the men’s families and friends.
On May 31, climbers Gulka and Büchner, both of Langley, and a third man who has not been publicly identified, summited Atwell Peak, “but were caught in a catastrophic avalanche on their descent,” the campaign page reads.
A search, led by Squamish SAR, ended with the recovery of the men’s bodies on July 8.
Valeriote said the link between climate change and the economy means we “invest now in the new Green economy—as many other countries are doing—and help make life more affordable in the future. Otherwise, the recent inflationary crisis will seem like a walk in the park,” he said.
Valeriote also took aim at the BC NDP’s child-care initiatives, saying they “proved great at announcements, and terrible at implementation.”
“There aren’t enough $10/day spaces or staff to run the centres, and some who were previously offering it have stopped due to the bureaucracy. We could do a whole lot better by prioritizing partnerships with public schools, community non-profits, and First Nations,” he said.
Asked about how the party would help small businesses in town so they could afford to pay a living wage, Valeriote said the B.C. government
“Our total goal is to raise $10,000 with a minimum of $5,000 going directly to SSAR,” reads the campaign page.
As of July 23, the goal had been exceeded, with close to $12,000 raised.
While the 80-member strong volunteer
should “support local entrepreneurs instead of multinational corporations who lobby for big subsidies and offshore profits without delivering on the long-term, sustainable jobs they promise.”
YURI FULMER, BC CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Asked about this issue, the most recent candidate to enter the election race, Yuri Fulmer of the Conservative Party of BC, said that one of his favourite quotes is, “What gets measured gets done.”
“A living wage means we have a measurement now. We can work with this. We need to look those numbers right in the face and figure out how everyone who lives here makes at least that amount and close the gap as fast as we can,” he said.
In his emailed statement, Fulmer said he works with over 2,000 employees, all over B.C. and hears
organization, Squamish SAR, never charges for rescues, it does appreciate donations.
“The team is very appreciative of all donations,” said SAR’s Christy Allan, director of communications.
“We rely on the generosity of donors to pay for
the same story from every community.
“British Columbia is the most expensive place to live in the world,” he said, adding that the British Columbia Business Council reports that 36% of British Columbians are seriously considering leaving the province, and half of young people expect to raise their own families elsewhere.
“This is what an actual crisis looks like. To me, it’s about prosperity for everyone. The solution is not about minor measures; it’s about creating well-paying jobs for hard-working British Columbians. A Conservative government will support small businesses in creating good jobs that benefit communities and the environment. When we help small businesses— which are the backbone of the British Columbian economy—the economy grows, and we create sustainable, healthy communities,” he said.
continued operations, equipment and training.
A capital campaign is also being planned to help fund a new compound as the team is moving to the airport in April 2026.”
The lease for the current location of the organization, near Brennan Park Recreation Centre, is set to expire, thus the move.
Allan noted that call volume for SAR is up so far this season over 2023. The team has responded to 65 calls, year-to-date, compared with 54 calls for the same time period last year. Donations can be made directly to Squamish Search and Rescue on its website.
Please note that The Squamish Chief did not disclose the men’s names, at the families’ request, until this public campaign named them. We continue to keep the identity of the third man confidential.
The Squamish Chief reached out to the organizer of the GoFundMe for comment, but did not hear back.
Fulmer said that the minimum wage was designed to be a temporary solution.
“It was created to protect the most vulnerable workers, those new to the workforce and new Canadians. It wasn’t meant to be the wage for a large number of full-time workers. But because small businesses are not thriving, the minimum wage has become just that. That’s wrong,” he said. “People in Squamish and Whistler are standing in line at the food bank after working their full-time jobs,” he added. “That’s not OK. This week, a small business owner in the Sea to Sky corridor told me about how members of her staff share a two-bedroom, one-bathroom condo, with a stove that doesn’t work, with 13 people. This is what’s been allowed to happen under the NDP. This is not the British Columbia I want my kids to grow up in.”
B.C.’s next provincial general election is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2024.
LRB DISMISSES QUEST UNIVERSITY FACULTY UNION’S BID TO HAVE CAPU ITS NEW EMPLOYER
Labour Relations Board rules in Capilano University’s favour: No succession from Quest University after unsuccessful faculty union bid
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
The BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) has dismissed an application by Squamish’s Quest University Faculty Union, which argued that Capilano University was effectively their new employer.
If the board had decided in the union’s favour, agreeing there was a successorship by Capilano University when it bought the Quest University campus and lands last year, this would mean CapU would, as the new employer, effectively step “into the shoes of the old employer,” according to the LRB website definition of successorship.
“For example, the new employer will be bound by the union’s certification, the collective agreement, and any other proceedings under the [Labour Relations] Code.”
BACKGROUND
What does this LRB decision made on July 10, 2024 mean?
To understand the decision, let’s back up for some history.
Quest University Canada, a private, not-for-profit university, opened in 2007 and operated in the Garibaldi Highlands in Squamish, offering a bachelor of arts and sciences degree until the spring of 2023.
In 2019, the union was certified to represent the bargaining unit of faculty employed by Quest University, though it never completed a first collective agreement, due to the school’s financial issues, according to the LRB decision penned by the tribunal’s vice-chair Rene-John Nicolas.
In December 2020, Primacorp Ventures bought the campus and land, bringing Quest University out of court protection from creditors.
The LRB decision notes that CapU objected to this deal and wanted to make an offer to Quest “in partnership with another party,” but this was denied.
Quest University was able to continue operating by becoming a tenant on the lands and campus owned by Primacorp.
Due to continued financial troubles, Quest ceased operations in the spring of 2023.
The LRB decision notes that in March of 2023, Andrews Development Management
Corporation entered into an agreement to purchase the land and campus from Primacorpo.
Andrews then approached CapU with the opportunity to buy the Squamish campus.
In May, the provincial government said it would pony up $48 million for a Capilano campus.
Andrews assigned its agreement over to Capilano University.
On the same day, Capilano and Primacorp entered into a purchase agreement, excluding the Quest University lease.
“The purchase agreement specifically provided for a condition whereby Primacorp had to terminate the Quest lease ... because Capilano did not want to inherit any ongoing obligations to or relationship with Quest,” reads the decision document.
The Quest lease was terminated on June 23, 2023.
The decision notes that the purchase was between Capilano and Primacorp, and Quest was not involved in the sale.
Capilano University is set to open its Squamish campus on the property in the fall of this year.
The document notes that CapU has hired two former Quest faculty members and one former non-union administration employee.
UNION ARGUMENT
The union argued that there is “discernible continuity” between Quest’s business and Capilano’s.
It said there were three factors that support its case that there has been a successorship from Quest University to CapU: the transfer of assets, the performance of similar work and the continuation of services to former students.
“The union says the fact that the sale was not directly between Quest and Capilano does not diminish the significance of the assets transferred to Capilano,” reads the decision.
The union pointed to the long-standing agreement between Quest and Capilano University for students to transfer to the North Vancouver-based school.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION
The Labour Relations Board, however, dismissed the application in Capilano’s favour.
Bosa Properties and Kingswood Properties Mamquam Blind Channel Pedestrian Bridge,
CO NS TRUC TI ON ACTIV ITY
All construction will be done in accordance with guidelines set by the District of Squamish and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
In the listed assessment, Nicolas notes that the university and the land and buildings were and are separate.
There’s nothing suggesting that Primacorp was acting on Quest’s behalf when it sold the campus to Capilano, Nicolas wrote.
“Rather, that was a deal done directly between Capilano and Primacrop, independent of Quest.”
“I find that Quest was essentially defunct as of April 2023, when it suspended its academic programming. Whatever was left continued on with Quest.”
Nicolas also notes that Capilano has renovated the Squamish campus “to meet its own purpose.”
“That purpose is the running of its own business, not the business previously operated by Quest.”
Nicolas also makes note of Capilano University’s efforts to “distance itself” from Quest.
“It is not disputed that Capilano attempted to distance itself from Quest given the negative publicity associated with Quest’s financial decision. As such, I am not persuaded that Capilano was attempting to seize hold of anything to do with Quest’s reputation, indeed, quite the opposite seems to be the case,” Nicolas wrote.
“I am therefore not persuaded that the fact of goodwill supports finding a successorship.”
CapU didn’t take on any of the trademarks, logos or its name.
Nicolas also said that CapU has a longstanding mandate to serve the Sea to Sky, previously having a school in Squamish on
Carson Place that closed in 2015.
Capilano also considered purchasing waterfront property in the Oceanfront Squamish development, but that agreement lapsed in April of 2023 when the opportunity to buy the Quest lands arose.
Thus, the opening of the Squamish CapU campus this fall is a re-establishment of its business in town, not a takeover of Quest’s business, Nicolas said. Further, Capilano had long ago agreed to be
the holder of transcripts for Quest students, should the school fold, as it is for many other institutions, the decision notes.
And only a handful of former Quest students have transferred to CapU, and the number was consistent with when Quest was operating, Nicolas said.
“Since Quest’s suspension of its academic programming in April 2023, Capilano has accepted the transfer of five students from Quest,” the decision states, adding this is about
the same number as previous years when Quest was operational.
“I am not persuaded that the business of Quest, in whole or in part, as a ‘going concern,’ has been transferred to and continued by Capilano,” concluded Nicolas.
“Quest’s business had largely lost its ‘dynamic quality’ as a business by April 2023 when it suspended its academic programming. There was nothing in substance that could be transferred to Capilano by that time.”
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
While some signs of Quest remain, a tribunal found that CapU is a whole new business, with no ties to the former university.
YURI FULMER NOMINATED FOR CONSERVATIVES IN WEST VANCOUVER-SEA TO SKY
The West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding – narrowly won by the BC Liberals during the last election – is considered one to watch by political commentators
JANE SEYD North Shore News
North Shore business leader and philanthropist Yuri Fulmer has joined the provincial election race in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky as the Conservative candidate.
Fulmer, 50, a prominent businessman and founder of Fulmer & Co., is also chancellor of Capilano University and is known for his community and philanthropic work including his role as chairman of the worldwide United Way charity and co-chair of Vancouver’s Honda Celebration of Light.
Fulmer is also the recipient of the Order of British Columbia and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, among others.
He announced his nomination as the Conservative candidate for the riding Monday.
Fulmer said up to now, politics hasn’t been on his agenda, but “to be honest I felt a need to do it,” he said. “I just feel our province is at a point where we need to correct the path we’re on.”
“We’re running a huge deficit. We’ve got a health care system in crisis. We’ve got an
education system that’s no longer the example for the rest of the world that it once was,” he said.
Fulmer has previously been a member of the Conservative Party of Canada and the B.C. Liberal Party. He said he was only a member of the B.C. Conservatives for about 48 hours before being nominated.
“I’m a big believer in [Conservative leader] John Rustad. I think he’s a pragmatic guy. I think he’s a straight shooter,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in his leadership.”
Fulmer lives with his family in West Vancouver, just outside the boundary of the riding (which was moved further west following the last provincial election).
“It’s a fascinating riding,” he said, noting that the concerns he’s heard are different depending on the community. People in Whistler/Pemberton are worried about wildfires, he said, while availability of housing tops the list in Squamish, and West Vancouver residents are concerned about issues like their taxes rising to pay for Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“It’s a big riding with very different communities,” he said.
RIDING ONE TO WATCH
Fulmer’s candidacy adds a new twist to a riding already considered one of the more interesting ones to watch.
B.C. United MLA Jordan Sturdy has announced he will not seek re-election after narrowly hanging on to his seat last time, squeaking out a win over second-place finisher Jeremy Valeriote of the Green Party.
Valeriote is running again for the Greens, while Whistler councillor Jen Ford has been nominated for the NDP. BC United has not yet named a candidate.
On Monday, Valeriote put out a statement welcoming Fulmer to the race but questioning why “he’s chosen to run for a party of climate change deniers who are deploying U.S.-style culture war politics, including transphobic and homophobic rhetoric.”
Gerald Baier, a UBC political scientist, said the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding will be one to watch, with potential vote splitting between both the NDP and Greens, and the BC Conservatives and BC United, if that party nominates a candidate to replace Sturdy. Some of that could also depend on name recognition of various candidates in different parts of the riding, he added.
Another change potentially impacting results in a close race are the redrawn riding boundaries which moved a chunk of West Vancouver east of 28th Street – including Altamont, West Bay and Westmount – to the West Vancouver-Capilano riding.
The change moved about 3,650 West Vancouver residents into the adjacent riding.
PHOTO COURTESY BC CONSERVATIVES Yuri Fulmer.
BRIAN AIKENS
PHOTO BY
SQUAMISH MURAL WALK: The Squamish Mural Walk Festival, an event by the Downtown Squamish BIA, filled the town with new art this past weekend.
Notice of Vehicle/Trailer Removal
Please be advised, effective immediately, actions are being taken to remove unauthorized vehicles/ trailers parked at the following premises “the Lands”:
LOT 2 (EXPLANATORY PLAN 750) DISTRICT LOT 486 EXCEPT PLANS BCP24344, BCP36969 AND BCP36971, PARCEL 1 (BYLAW PLAN BCP36970) DISTRICT LOT 486 DEDICATED AS ROAD ON PLAN 4657
LOT 2 (EXPLANATORY PLAN 750) DISTRICT LOT 486 EXCEPT PLANS BCP24344, BCP36969 AND BCP36971.
These vehicles/ trailers will be removed by an authorized representative, under direction from the Owner of the Lands Vehicles/ trailers are unlawfully parked and are in Trespass under the Trespass Act [RSBC 2018] Chapter 3, Sections 4(2) Lands are represented on map below
NEW BREATHWORKS TEACHES PEOPLE THE POWER OF BREATH CONTROL
The
studio combines breathwork techniques and heart science to enhance people’s health and well-being
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
iLemayConway@squamishchief.com
Breathe in, breathe out.
It’s something we do every day and most of the time we forget we’re even doing it; but a new Squamish studio is encouraging people to take control of their breathing and discover its surprising connection to heart health.
BreathWorks is the brainchild of founder Loretta Cella—a certified coach and heart breath therapist—who says it is one of the first studios to combine breathwork techniques and heart science to enhance your health and well-being.
“Breathwork is an opportunity to work with your breath in different ways,” Cella told The Squamish Chief.
“The premise of breathwork is utilising the breath in order to heal and to connect with the body, mind and heart differently.
“So in here, we use pranayama and a conscious circular breath so both to regulate and safely dysregulate in order to heal.”
After moving to Squamish a year ago, Cella decided she would open a studio to introduce the community to breathwork—something she said has been welcomed with open arms.
“I would definitely say people are more open; there’s definitely resistance like anything new but I think people in Squamish are here for a new experience,” she said.
“Because people are here to be in nature, I’ve brought nature into the studio, giving people an opportunity to practice breathwork in a new and safe way.”
The studio, located in downtown Squamish has been designed with nature at the foremind. The walls are made with cedar wood, the floor is natural cork and plants line the perimeter of the well-lit room.
Cella, who has worked in human services for 24 years across the globe, said that breathwork can help aid with a variety of mental and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, chronic illness and fatigue.
“[The heart] is the first place that gets oxygen after the lungs. So when you build the relationship between the breath and the heart, what happens is you’re building a relationship with your life force; because without these two, we aren’t here,” she said.
“What I tell people is that our heart is the first organ to beat in our mother. It is also the last thing to beat when we leave and when we pay attention to it, we can start to work with it and heal using its field of energy,” she said.
“When you mix heart science with this type of breathwork, you’re basically taking the two most important things that we have, physically and energetically, and bringing them together … it is truly a profound experience.”
THE STUDIO EXPERIENCE
She explains the studio will have around 12 classes dedicated towards the breathwork practice, including Yin Yoga, Silent Reset and Sacred Sundays.
“The silent reset class is just a simple meditation where we practise nervous system regulation, connecting to our heart,” Cella said.
“We have a kids program called BWell … which my daughter, who’s six, will be helping and she’s very excited about it.
“Every third Wednesday of the month is an opportunity for a health and wellness business woman in the community to come in and share some tips and tricks.
“We will also have a men’s program that’s starting in September, called Strength in Stillness, and it’s designed to help men to feel that inner connection with their emotional state and regulation where in society, that’s not really a norm.”
BreathWorks officially opens on August 4 and can be found at 38224 Eaglewind Blvd. Squamish.
‘Squamish business beat’ is a series that arose from feedback from locals who wanted to see more business-related news. To be considered for this series, please email news@squamishchief.com.
FUNFOR EVERYONE!AUG
1st-4th
THURSDAY AUGUST 1-6:30PM -Spectate Free!
Details at squamishdays.ca/thurs
FRIDAY AUGUST 2-Spectate Free!
Details at squamishdays.ca/fri
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHAIR CARVE
Location: Corsa Cycles Parking Lot, 3:00-5:00PM
Presented by: Husqvarna Canada and Inland Equipment
SQUAMISH LEGION BEDRACES
Location:Cleveland Avenue, 6:00-8:00PM
Presentedby: West-Barr Contracting and Alta Lake Electric
SUNDAY AUGUST 4
Details at squamishdays.ca/sun
SATURDAY AUGUST 3
Details at squamishdays.ca/sat
Presented by: Fortis BC and Woodfibre LNG
NOVICE &INTERMEDIATE LOGGERS SPORTS SHOW
Location: Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Grounds, Gates open 12PM Presented by: Sea to Sky Gondola |Tickets: squamishdays.ca/tickets
AXE THROW INVITATIONAL -Spectate Free!
Location: Squamish Valley Golf Club, 7:00PM Presented by: Triton Automotive
PANCAKEBREAKFAST squamishdays ca/tickets
Location:ChieftainCentre Mall,8:00AM-11:00AM
Presented by: AshlaurTrading and Oceanview Forest Products
If you have wandered down to Sp’akw’us Feather Park at Oceanfront Squamish in recent months and noticed a number of art installations, you may have had your curiosity piqued as to what exactly they are.
The Squamish Chief went on a walking tour of the five sculptures with visual artist, Maskull Lasserre, to get the lowdown on the public artwork.
“We wanted interactive and publicly accessible sculptures for the area—something other than building jeweller,y which public art sometimes tends to be,” Lasserre told The Squamish Chief.
“It’s an extraordinary site and it called for an extraordinary approach to populate it with a physical manifestation of culture and history.
“All of these pieces point out to the landscape, into the community and to the history and possible futures rather than being static destination pieces that talk about themselves.”
The collection of artworks is called “Lacuna,” which the Squamish-based artist describes as “a missing piece”.
“It’s the pause between words that meaning
inhabits, the empty space that’s filled with whatever people bring to it,” he said.
“I look at these as illustrations for an unwritten fable or something.”
GRAVITY AS THIEF AND PROTECTOR
Despite being laid out across the park to stumble across in any order, Lasserre said
there is a specific orientation for the pieces. When you first walk into the centre of the park you are immediately greeted with the sculpture titled “Gravity as Thief and Protector.”
The installation depicts a ladder reaching up towards the sky, resting on the moon. Several rungs on the ladder are missing and perched towards the top is a raven with one of the rungs in its talons.
“This was designed pre all the lampposts being installed here, so it used to be that when you drove down that road, there was just this moon hanging in the sky, but now you have to get past the lampposts before it has that same effect,” Lasserre said.
Made with bronze and stainless steel, Lasserre explains the missing ladder rungs act as a deterrent to “keep ambitious Squamish climbers” away from the top of the ladder. He said the name of the park—Sp’akw’us Feather Park—inspired the ravens used across the installations and he has since learned of an Indigenous story that unintentionally ties the piece together.
“There is an Indigenous story about a raven stealing the stars from the sky. I didn’t know this until after the fact, but it’s a wonderful interpretation that found its way into the work,” Lasserre said.
PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Momento Cipher.
“The raven here has a sister that is part of the final piece, which is a bit of a secret that if you really look will reveal itself to you.”
MEMENTO CIPHER
Three sculptures Lasserre refers to as “triptic or memento” which pay homage to the “industrial legacy” of the site.
Each made out of bronze material, the trio of work depicts an excavator bucket, a root wad with a stainless steel key entwined in the roots, and a bell with a stainless-steel salmon inside that has swallowed the knocker.
“People ask what they mean and what it’s all about and I guess the answer is in looking at the objects themselves. If it meant something that could fit into a sentence then it would be much easier just to write that down,” he said.
“But the point of making these things is that the meaning and the understanding converge into the physical and material world and not in words. They have to be experienced and touched and moved.”
All three of the sculptures are on bearings and are able to be spun around.
Lasserre says the installations can be spun around to a specific alignment which reveals where the keyhole is for the key.
“It’s a little riddle for people who choose to discover it,” he said.
MOTHER
It’s not every day you see a 3,600 kilogram( 8,000 pound) rock floating in the air, but this is exactly what Lasserre has created for his piece called “Mother.”
Specter—the hidden raven.
The first installation made for Lacuna portrays a pulley system where a massive rock is suspended in the air by a piece of rope. Visitors can stand on the other side of the pulley and hold onto the rope, giving the illusion they are lifting the boulder.
“Each one of these pieces is meant to make people just a little bit uncomfortable, there’s this expression of “falling awake” which is when you see something that you don’t usually see like this 8,000 pounds of granite hovering 10 inches above the ground,”
Lasserre said.
“You’re not used to seeing big rocks like this off the ground. It’s just to share those kinds of
moments to take expectations and turn them on their head a little bit.”
The artwork has been temporarily deactivated by the District of Squamish while they wait to install a sign urging visitors to “use at your own risk.”
Lasserre said this is due to “people swinging on the rope.”
“There are plans to put up a sign from my understanding,” he said.
FREEDOM AS HOPE OVER DISTANCE AND SPECTRE
The last installation is a collection of two artworks, one of which you might not even
notice is there.
‘Freedom as Hope over Distance’ depicts a scale with a boulder on one side, and a locked bird cage on the other, both perfectly balanced.
“There’s this totally upended notion of balance and symmetry here, they’re kind of the same size, but totally different weights and they shouldn’t balance like that, so it either makes you think that the cage is much heavier or the rock is much lighter,” Lasserre said.
Inside the rock is a scope which you can look through to see the hidden second part of this installation, “Spectre.”
Turning the rock towards the right of the oceanfront, a raven can be spotted on a pole. In true artistic fashion, the raven can be spotted with a key in its mouth—the key to the cage balanced on the scale.
“There is something so solid and stationary, about 2,000 pounds of rock, you shouldn’t be able to turn it,” he said.
“Putting the scope and the hanging rock together seemed like an experience I’d never had but one I would really like to have.” Lasserre said he wanted to use the lock and key symbolism throughout Lacuna because it acts like a lure or prompt for visitors.
“It’s a very obvious combination of objects and finding one makes you look for the other,” he said.
“It’s that journey of looking for the lock or the key where life happens and that’s the Lacuna, the gap between these two things.”
All five artworks can be seen at Sp’akw’us Feather Park at the Oceanfront Squamish.
SQUAMISH BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY
Spiritual Education
Spiritual or moral education addresses values and shapes character; it largely determines to what end an individual will use whatever knowledge he or she acquires.
Spiritual or moral education is almost never seen outside of parochial schools or religious institutions, is shunned in most developed countries as irrelevant or intrusive to modern education and is rarely funded by international donors It is the one kind of education which asserts the dignity of the human spirit in all its diversity, and formalizes its relationship to the Divine Such universal human values as trustworthiness, honesty, courtesy, generosity, respect and kindness are rapidly disappearing from our increasingly belligerent and fractured world. Through moral or character education, whether formalized in religious or secular programs or provided informally by wise and caring family or community members, that which is valued by society and gives meaning to life is transmitted to succeeding generations.
The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom. – Baha’ullah
For full article visit www.squamishbahais.com/blog
MULTI- MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE KIM BOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief.com
MULTI- MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE KIM BOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief.com
CIRCULATION MANAGER
CIRCULATION MANAGER
DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief.com
DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief.com
PUBLISHER SARAH STROTHER sstrother@wplpmedia.com
PUBLISHER SARAH STROTHER sstrother@wplpmedia.com
The Squamish Chief is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact Editor Jennifer Thuncher at jthuncher@squamishchief.com. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.
The Squamish Chief is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact Editor Jennifer Thuncher at jthuncher@squamishchief.com. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.
Reproduction of any material contained in this publication is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Reproduction of any material contained in this publication is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publisher.
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
INTERTWINED: LOGGERS SPORTS AND NEWSPAPERS
INTERTWINED: LOGGERS SPORTS AND NEWSPAPERS
SSquamish Days Loggers’ Sports and the Squamish newspaper go together like the proverbial chocolate and peanut butter.
quamish Days Loggers’ Sports and the Squamish newspaper go together like the proverbial chocolate and peanut butter.
This weekend marks the 67th anniversary of Squamish Days.
This weekend marks the 67th anniversary of Squamish Days.
The Squamish Public Library archives contain photos of loggers’ sports that appeared in the local newspaper, the Squamish Times, at the beginning.
The Squamish Public Library archives contain photos of loggers’ sports that appeared in the local newspaper, the Squamish Times, at the beginning.
Many loggers’ sports photos in the library archives were contributed by the beloved newspaper writer Rose Tatlow, who, the archive’s note, worked for the first Squamish newspaper, The Squamish Advance, starting in about 1945.
Many loggers’ sports photos in the library archives were contributed by the beloved newspaper writer Rose Tatlow, who, the archive’s note, worked for the first Squamish newspaper, The Squamish Advance, starting in about 1945.
“We’ve always thought that loggers are pretty wonderful people,” wrote Tatlow in 1964.
“We’ve always thought that loggers are pretty wonderful people,” wrote Tatlow in 1964.
She was in the Squamish newspaper business for 40 years, retiring at 70, and dying in 1998,
She was in the Squamish newspaper business for 40 years, retiring at 70, and dying in 1998,
The Squamish Advance was bought out by Claude Hoodspith of West Vancouver, who also had a paper in North Vancouver. The paper’s name was changed to The Howe Sound Squamish Times and later the Squamish Times. It was published from 1957 to the 1990s.
The Squamish Advance was bought out by Claude Hoodspith of West Vancouver, who also had a paper in North Vancouver. The paper’s name was changed to The Howe Sound Squamish Times and later the Squamish Times. It was published from 1957 to the 1990s.
The Squamish Chief has been published every week since 1991.
The Squamish Chief has been published every week since 1991.
Newspapers and loggers’ sports have a lot in common, beyond our shared necessity for wood.
Newspapers and loggers’ sports have a lot in common, beyond our shared necessity for wood.
Both the sports and the local print paper predate many who live here now.
Both the sports and the local print paper predate many who live here now.
Both have had many locals come and go from their ranks over the years, all who shared a passion for their industries and this place.
Both have had many locals come and go from their ranks over the years, all who shared a passion for their industries and this place.
Both helped build community over time and both harken back to a simpler time, but have evolved with the changes thrust on them.
Both helped build community over time and both harken back to a simpler time, but have evolved with the changes thrust on them.
Different from previous eras, many who participate in loggers’ sports these days, don’t work in the industry as their day job.
Different from previous eras, many who participate in loggers’ sports these days, don’t work in the industry as their day job.
Similarly, newspapers have changed from the days when the stories were literally cut and pasted together.
Similarly, newspapers have changed from the days when the stories were literally cut and pasted together.
Everything is done on computers and printers now, of course, just as the forest industry has modernized.
Everything is done on computers and printers now, of course, just as the forest industry has modernized.
Both may be controversial to some and counted out as mere legacy industries by others.
Both may be controversial to some and counted out as mere legacy industries by others.
If you want to understand Squamish and what locals care about, flip through the local paper and attend a loggers’ sports event. You will see us on full display there.
If you want to understand Squamish and what locals care about, flip through the local paper and attend a loggers’ sports event. You will see us on full display there.
Happy Squamish Days.
Happy Squamish Days.
~With a file from Sylvie Paillard
~With a file from Sylvie Paillard
LIFE IN SQUAMISH: DO YOU REALLY NEED A MOUNTAIN BIKE TO FIT IN?
LIFE IN SQUAMISH: DO YOU REALLY NEED A MOUNTAIN BIKE TO FIT IN?
DDid you know that you can’t live in Squamish without owning a mountain bike?
id you know that you can’t live in Squamish without owning a mountain bike?
It’s true, or at least that’s what everyone tells me. And trust me I have heard it at least 20 times since I arrived in this beautiful mountain-bike-loving town almost a month ago.
It’s true, or at least that’s what everyone tells me. And trust me I have heard it at least 20 times since I arrived in this beautiful mountain-bike-loving town almost a month ago.
I knew before I arrived in Squamish that it was a place where people loved to celebrate all things outdoors.
I knew before I arrived in Squamish that it was a place where people loved to celebrate all things outdoors.
Whether it’s snowboarding and skiing in the winter; or hiking, climbing, kiteboarding and yes, mountain biking in the summertime—people come to Squamish to immerse themselves in the wilderness and I am so glad to find myself here amongst it all.
Whether it’s snowboarding and skiing in the winter; or hiking, climbing, kiteboarding and yes, mountain biking in the summertime—people come to Squamish to immerse themselves in the wilderness and I am so glad to find myself here amongst it all.
But I must ask—is it so hard to imagine someone would live here and not want to own a mountain bike?
But I must ask—is it so hard to imagine someone would live here and not want to own a mountain bike?
Since my first day in Squamish, people have been telling me that I have to get involved in the mountain
Since my first day in Squamish, people have been telling me that I have to get involved in the mountain
bike scene and hit the trails as soon as I can.
bike scene and hit the trails as soon as I can. Not as a subtle suggestion but an order, because Squamish is one of the best places in the world to go mountain biking, so how could I not?
Not as a subtle suggestion but an order, because Squamish is one of the best places in the world to go mountain biking, so how could I not?
And it is true, the plethora of trails and the new Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association bike skills park does make a great case for it to be THE place to go mountain biking.
And it is true, the plethora of trails and the new Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association bike skills park does make a great case for it to be THE place to go mountain biking.
If that wasn’t a convincing enough argument, Crankworx, the world famous mountain bike festival in Whistler surely did its best to show me what elite athletes of this sport can do.
If that wasn’t a convincing enough argument, Crankworx, the world famous mountain bike festival in Whistler surely did its best to show me what elite athletes of this sport can do.
Now while I do love a good bike ride along a (relatively flat) beach path, the reality is that I have zero desire to get on a mountain bike, speed down dirt trails and launch off jumps in the woods.
Now while I do love a good bike ride along a (relatively flat) beach path, the reality is that I have zero desire to get on a mountain bike, speed down dirt trails and launch off jumps in the woods.
It’s not that I haven’t tried it before, I have, but it just wasn’t for me.
It’s not that I haven’t tried it before, I have, but it just wasn’t for me.
Does this mean I don’t meet the criteria to live in Squamish anymore? I sure hope not because I was just starting to find my footing here and I’m not sure I’d be too willing to leave.
Does this mean I don’t meet the criteria to live in Squamish anymore? I sure hope not because I was just starting to find my footing here and I’m not sure I’d be too willing to leave.
I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines and champion the importance of the sport in our community, just please don’t force me to get on a bike.
I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines and champion the importance of the sport in our community, just please don’t force me to get on a bike.
So to everyone who says you can’t live here without owning a mountain bike, I say—watch me.
So to everyone who says you can’t live here without owning a mountain bike, I say—watch me.
(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)
RESENT VIEW OF LNG WORKERS
In response to, “Letter: Don’t tell me what to worry about with LNG” [published July 25],
I am a 70 year old woman living in Squamish since 1993.
Since then I have seen many changes.
•The forest industry, a renewable resource, which provided a living wage, was decimated by government policy.
•The change to a recreation-based economy where people struggle to make ends meet.
•The growth of the population to include many who work in the lower mainland and live here, for the lifestyle. ie outdoor recreation at your doorstep.
•The change in the tax base from industrial to residential.
Have I liked all of these changes? No.
Change is the reality of Squamish and I love the community enough to not divide people over something over which we have no control.
On the positive side for LNG, there will be living wages for people and a great increase in municipal taxes collected. This will help with all the infrastructure costs for an increasing population and could decrease the cost of residential taxes.
Regarding the threat from LNG workers.
I have two grown daughters and a teenage granddaughter living in this town. Neither I nor they fear for their safety from these skilled tradespeople.
My husband worked in camp situations. That did not turn him into a raping, murderous monster.
My grandson is going into the carpentry/
construction field.
Both he and I resent the inference that he would be a threat to you and yours because he is a tradesperson and has a job at LNG.
I agree with the floatel because it removes the pressure on our already stressed housing situation. I also feel that we are committing an injustice against those workers, and losing income for our local businesses by not allowing them to spend time and money in our town.
The government has decreed LNG is a go. Squamish Nation is in agreement with the project, It is time to gracefully accept it and get on with making Squamish a great place to live.
Squamish council, it is time to ratify the TUP and move on to other issues.
Cheryle Bass, Squamish
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
What is your favourite event of Squamish Days Loggers’ Sports?
Have your say at squamishchief.com
LAST WEEK’S
Would you like to see more Squamish businesses pay the “living wage”? (Top 3 answers)
Two years later: Hiker reflects on life-altering incident in B.C. park MOST READ STORY
This week, Indigo LemayConway visted Sp’akw’us Feather Park to learn the story behind several public art pieces. See this video and many others at @squamishchief on TikTok. TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK LETTERS
Chief
letters
PHOTO BY AAFREEN ARORA DRAGONFLY FUN:
Garibaldi Lake spotlighted in Nutella’s ‘Savour the Beauty of Canada’ campaign
Sea to Sky limited edition jars, one of 13 featuring Canadian ‘hidden gems’ that are available for purchase
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
It is not uncommon to see nature represented on a food brand; think of the Matterhorn, which adorned Toblerone chocolate from the 1970s until last year.
However, a Sea to Sky Corridor, or even a B.C. location, is not so common.
Until now, that is.
Nutella—yes, the hazelnut chocolate spread—has released limited-edition jars featuring Garibaldi Lake.
“We chose Garibaldi Lake for our Savour the Beauty of Canada campaign because of its breathtaking natural beauty and significance to Canadian heritage,” said Claire Robbins, senior brand manager with Nutella, Ferrero Canada, in an email to The Squamish Chief.
foodbeat
“[G]iven its status as a ‘hidden gem’: places of natural beauty, which is off the beaten path. Its turquoise waters and surrounding mountains represent the stunning landscapes that Canada has to offer.”
“But also, given its status as a ‘hidden gem’: places of natural beauty, which is off the beaten
path. Its turquoise waters and surrounding mountains represent the stunning landscapes that Canada has to offer. By featuring Garibaldi Lake on our limited-edition Nutella jars, we aim to inspire Canadians to appreciate and explore our country’s natural wonders.”
Nutella has also created a “special recipe inspired by local ingredients” for the Garibaldi Lake jar—the Nutella Cherry Smoothie Bowl.
Those who want to give it a try can find our region’s recipe, along with an interactive map showcasing all the jars and their corresponding recipes, at Nutella.com.
Here are the other 12 Savour the Beauty of Canada Canadian spots:
• Carthew Alderson Trail, Alta.
• Pisew Falls, Man.
• Musquash Lighthouse, N.B.
• Skerwink Trail, N.L.
• Cameron Falls, N.W.T.
• Blue Rocks, N.S.
• Baffin Island, Nvt.
• Cheltenham Badlands, Ont.
• Thunder Cove Beach, P.E.I.
• Castle Butte, Sask.
• Carcross Desert, Yukon
• Isle-Aux-Grues, Que.
While supplies last, the jars are available for purchase, nationwide.
TWO YEARS LATER: HIKER REFLECTS ON LIFE-ALTERING INCIDENT IN BC PARK
Woman injured by falling tree at Shannon Falls
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
When Christine Corkan set out with a friend to hike up the Shannon Falls Pools Trail, she couldn’t have guessed that she would end the day in hospital.
Nor could the Britannia Beach resident have predicted that two years later, she would still be physically and mentally impacted by the injury she sustained that day.
The hike was fine, “great” even, the then 50-something active local says.
“I was going up chains and ropes; we had a little snack up there and met people,” Corkan recalled.
But after the hike, in the afternoon of Aug. 10, 2022, as she was making her way to her truck on a paved path to the Shannon Falls Park parking lot, she was suddenly hit on the head by a piece of tree top that fell from about nine metres (30 feet) above.
She said there were a lot of people around, given that it was midday on a Sunday in August.
Her friend, who confirmed the story with The Squamish Chief, is a retired nurse. She helped Corkan in the immediate aftermath, including stemming the bleeding and calling 911 for an ambulance.
BC Emergency Health Services confirmed it received a call about this at 2:17 p.m.
The friend was a bit nervous about how long it was taking the ambulance to come, so she flagged down a pair of British rock-climbing brothers who rushed Corkan to Squamish Hospital in their rental car.
She was then transferred to Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver.
She received 16 staples to her head and suffered a concussion and a compression fracture in her spine.
“Luckily, I have extended medical, but have had many treatments with out-of-pocket expenses,” she said.
She was working part-time at the time, so she only missed a few days of work.
“But what if I was a provider for my family? What if I didn’t have coverage for all?”
Physically, her balance has been off since the incident, she said, and she believes this caused two other injuries when she tried to resume her normally active lifestyle.
She suffered a fractured sternum from a fall off her bike two months later and a broken ankle hiking when she lost her balance suddenly that autumn.
“The worst is what feels like PTSD. I’m scared to do all of the things that I loved to do,” she said, noting she really misses skiing, which she had done since she was five years old.
“I tried one time last year, and I couldn’t do it. I was so scared. I have lost my old,
adventurous self and there is nothing that I can do about it,” she said, adding she is generally more fearful and on high alert.
“I’ve turned into the safety officer,” she joked.
Corkan is telling her story as the two-year anniversary of the incident approaches to raise awareness that, though they are provincial parks, things can still happen in nature.
“You don’t have to be doing an extreme anything to be hurt, you know? But what can you do about it? I don’t know. We have to keep living,” she said.
“This can happen to anybody.”
BC PARKS: ‘WILL FOLLOW UP’
Corkan’s friend said that she contacted BC Parks twice about the incident but didn’t hear back.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, which is responsible for BC Parks, said the ministry did not have a record of this incident in particular and encouraged Corkan to reach out personally so they could learn more and make any suitable improvements.
Beyond contacting medical personnel, people can report safety incidents in provincial parks to staff and park operators, and at any time to parkinfo@gov.bc.ca, and BC Parks
staff will follow up.
According to the ministry, about 573,000 people visit Shannon Falls each year, and that number is rising annually.
Regarding safety in provincial parks generally, the spokesperson noted that thousands of trees are in provincial parks, and thus, the ministry takes “important steps to ensure long-term forest health while keeping visitors safe.”
BC Parks park operators responsible for managing provincial parks are mandated to conduct hazard tree assessments regularly, according to the spokesperson. These assessments are typically conducted in spring before each provincial park opens.
“Certified assessors search for trees that pose a safety hazard. Certified assessors are trained to identify trees that may appear healthy but are at risk of falling and causing harm or damage,” he said.
“We recognize there can still be risks in the natural environment, including from the effects of wildfires, and will follow up on any safety concerns reported to us.”
There are also BC Parks signage on kiosks alerting people to risks, and the ministry encourages people to check online for more information about what they can expect before visiting a provincial park, the spokesperson noted.
NEWEST MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS PARK IS OFFICIALLY OPEN
The new and improved park boasts higher jumps and a paved pump track for all to use
The Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association has officially opened the town’s revamped mountain bike skills park.
With bigger and better jumps and a new pump track, the organization is encouraging mountain bike enthusiasts of all skill levels and ages to come down and see what all the fuss is about.
“The age range is seriously from three to 70. We’ve seen all of that here and the whole facility here is for first time mountain bikers to advanced dirt jumpers,” SORCA executive director Ian Lowe told The Squamish Chief.
The park’s transformation cost about $238,000, but of that $177,000 was through grants and funding, Lowe said.
“We peeled back everything that was here and regraded the whole place. There is well over 3,000 tonnes of material that have been put onto this place, as all new drainage and more,” Lowe added.
SORCA president Jeff Norman said the idea to transform the mountain bike skills park—built in 2014—began in 2018 after the realization that the standard of the old site was “falling behind.”
“Throughout that time, bike parks in B.C. were ubiquitous, all towns had them and ours started
to fall behind a little bit,” Norman said.
“We started talking about how we needed to upgrade the Brennan Park facility and we looked at a few ways of rebuilding from rollers, or doing some small things here and there; but then Jonny Lloyd came onto the board and said, ‘We really need a great facility and we need to do a great job with this and make this project bigger.’”
“So we went to the District and a load of other funders and it slowly came together. It has been a long road … but that’s just the way
some of these things work and we are really happy with the results.”
The park unofficially opened on May 30 and has since gained attraction of hundreds of bike, skateboard and scooter enthusiasts.
So what’s new?
Lowe explains the biggest differences between the old site and the new and improved park are the jumps and the addition of a pump track.
“The jumps got totally rebuilt and are much larger,” Lowe said.
“There used to only be one jump line as well and now we’ve added two others. There’s a double blue, blue and a green line.
“The biggest change I think is that we now have a paved pump track. It’s a place where people can learn to hone their mountain biking skills in a safe environment … people of all ages are welcome.”
Mayor Armand Hurford spoke at the park’s grand opening and praised the community effort it took to get the site up and running.
“SORCA, for a long time, has been a growing example of what a strong community partner can achieve in the community,” Hurford said.
“We’ve just hit around 30,000 people, so that’s a lot of new residents and there’s parents that may not—shockingly—be mountain bikers. So the fact that they can come here, hang out and have a picnic while their kids can hone their skills in a controlled way is an amazing gateway [to the sport].
“When I think about the success of our Squamish athletes … particularly in mountain biking, it’s facilities like this and the broader trail network facilities that are producing world class athletes.
“If we want that to continue then we need more pieces like this.”
The SORCA mountain bike skills park can be found next to the Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
Mayor Armand Hurford cuts the bike tire ribbon to officially open the skills park.
OPPORTUNITIE S
Toolsavailable for rent. $39.70 -$47.90per hour
CONSTRUCTION LABOURER – Great opportunity to learn on-the-job. Stamina forphysically demanding work andperseverancetobrave inclementweatherrequired. Previous experience preferredbut notrequired. Trainingprovided. $25-$32per hour
Fifty percent
Had been
code
Whitish gem
Be indebted to
Herringlike fish
Acapulco money
22nd letter
Crate
Manor and land
Ranges
Unit of weight
Special skills
Off kilter
36. Printing liquid 37 Possibly 39 Zip 41 Use a needle 42. Fruit or color
On time 48. Need 49 Soap ingredient 51 Curly greens 52. Well-mannered 53. Charged particle 54. Just manages to earn 55. Husky’s burden 56. Incision 57. Tidy
Intermingled 6. Fearful admiration 7. Schoolyard items 8. Type of tie 9. “____ in Blue” 10 Let up on
Citrus beverages 19. Flinging 21. Milk substitute 24 King topper 25. More, to Juan
Occurrence 27. BPOE member
Saloon 30 Tic-tac-___ 33. Saintly
38. Roused 40. Paid to play 41 Tired out
Has 43. Banister 45. Construct 46. Sincere appeal 47 Examination
50 “____ Send Me”
ARIES March 21-April 19
This week, you’ll attend large gatherings or be active on social media. You’ll consider organizing a party for your nearest and dearest to wrap up the holidays.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Even if you don’t have children, back-to-school advertisements remind you of similar responsibilities, including caring for certain loved ones Prepare yourself for commitments with similar demands
GEMINI May 21-June 20
Although you’ve planned some social activities, professional obligations could dampen your excitement. Prioritize your responsibilities, but don’t forget to set aside time for fun. This will make your activities more enjoyable.
CANCER June 21-July 22
Whether you’re on holiday or not, you’ll want to get away from it all. Make time for new discoveries and treat yourself to a change of scenery by hitting the road.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Despite experiencing strong emotions, it’s essential to find opportunities to celebrate your happiness and remember that after rain comes sunshine The simple act of smiling can boost your mood and make you feel happier.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
A particular situation will be an irritating waste of time. Think before you speak to avoid future misunderstandings Work on developing a faster understanding to help maintain harmony.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Work will take up a lot of your time However, spending quality time with your loved ones is still important. Striking the right work-life balance will bring you peace.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Prepare for change when returning to work after the holidays. You could be offered a promotion or a management position after a senior executive leaves the company This situation will
astonish you.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You could invest in a home improvement project, such as a redecorating a room
Explore your new talents and take pride in the results Personal fulfilment lies in your achievements
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Shopping for bargains and treasures will bring you happiness. You could even unearth a precious antique in a relative’s attic or basement Your hunt for unique finds will be fruitful.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb 18
After a stressful period, treat yourself to some welldeserved relaxation at a spa or engage in other forms of self-care. Take care of yourself and enjoy the present moment to recharge your batteries.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
Give yourself a break. If you’re returning to work, get organized by rearranging your files and adjusting your schedule A systematic approach will help you get back on track.
HOW TO PLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3 x 3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3 x 3 box.
Keep the faith 2. Gibbons and gorillas 3. Most recent
Drifts
604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org Exalting Jesus, Equipping His Followers, Engaging the World
