February 29, 2024 - Squamish Chief

LOCAL COMPANY GETS $2.5 MILLION FROM FEDS

Quantum Technology has been awarded the funding to scale up its hydrogen purification and liquefaction systems

SCOTT TIBBALLS

stibballs@piquenewsmagazine

com

Squamish-based business Quantum Technology is getting a $2,547,500 injection of federal funds to scale up its green tech

The funding was announced at the company’s Squamish warehouse on Friday, Feb 23, by the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and the Minister responsible for PacifiCan, Harjit Sajjan Sajjan, who, along with local MP Patrick Weiler and invited guests, was given a tour of Quantum Technology’s facilities before the announcement Quantum Technology specializes in hydrogen and helium applications

“I really like to geek out on these types of conversations because the work that’s being done here, we used to talk about possibilities decades ago; now it’s real,” said Sajjan at a press conference

“I really am inspired by the groundbreaking work that’s being done here in Squamish, and I know

FUNDS: Continued on 5

PHOTO

THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE: Squamish was treated to several rainbows last week Hopefully,

got

as the upcoming forecast is for flurries or rain showers, but no sun, according to Environment Canada

Great location, ready to move in, 2 Bedrooms, 1 bath condo with beautiful views.

Secure parking spot and separate storage locker. Excellent team work with Evelyn Schellenberg, my co-list partner in getting it sold!

CAPU IS COMING TO SQUAMISH.

JOIN US AT THE SQUAMISH ADVENTURE CENTRE ON MARCH 14.

Interested in studying at the CapU Squamish campus?

We’d love to meet you!

While we get the campus ready to welcome you, join us for an info session at the Squamish Adventure Centre to learn about programs launching in Squamish this fall.

PROGRAMS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2024

• Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

• Associate of Arts Degree

• Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education

• Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma

• Tourism Management Co-op Education Diploma

• Adult Basic Education (high school upgrading)

EXPLORE CAPU SQUAMISH INFORMATION SESSION

Thursday, March 14

5:00–7:30 p.m.

Squamish Adventure Centre

38551 Loggers Lane, Squamish

RSVP AT CAPILANOU.CA/EXPLORE

APPLY NOW FOR FALL 2024

PAWS-ITIVE NEWS: TWO MORE OFF-LEASH DOG AREAS COMING THIS YEAR

The District says they plan to open the off-leash dog areas at Brennan Park and in Brackendale in 2024

ANDREW HUGHES

ahughes@squamishchief com

It’s happy news for our furry friends, the District says two more off-leash dog areas should be available within the calendar year.

A spokesperson for the District of Squamish wrote to The Squamish Chief in an email that one is expected to open as early as the spring.

“Two new off-leash dog areas will open in 2024. The off-leash area located at Brennan Park is scheduled to open this spring, and the off-leash area located along the Powerline Service Road in Brackendale is scheduled to open later this year,” wrote Rachel Boguski

With the opening of these two, there will be three in total for Squamish, including Merrill Park in the Garibaldi Highlands, which opened in 2022

A fourth area is set for Valleycliffe, but it does not have an anticipated opening date due to additional costs

“The remaining location, John Hunter Park in Valleycliffe, requires an investment in fencing, and a timeline is still to be determined,” said Boguski.

Boguski wrote these locations were chosen based on community feedback in 2021.

Additionally, dog owners using the areas will be expected to carry a leash and ensure it is visible, clean up and dispose of dog waste, and ensure the dog is wearing a valid licence.

“The areas are routinely patrolled by bylaw enforcement along with additional enforcement in the ‘no go areas’ of the community,” she said

Some additional information about the project’s history is available on the District’s website

PHOTO BY ANDREW HUGHES/THE SQUAM SH CH EF

The new off-leash dog area at Brennan Park, near the turf field

FUNDS: Continued from 1

that it takes amazing talent as part of a team to get this done ”

The funds will go towards Quantum Technology scaling up its hydrogen purification and liquefaction systems

“Harnessing this power is key to creating a net zero future for sectors like transportation,” said Sajjan, who talked about the breadth of application of the technology, citing his previous experience as the minister of international development and minister of defence as giving him exposure to industries and parts of the world where hydrogen technology was sought after.

“It’s not just defence doing its part for a cleaner environment. … This technology is about being more operationally effective, and many militaries around the world are focusing on this ”

The investment in the Squamish-based company is expected to create 20 new jobs on top of the 53 already existing The funds come from PacifiCan’s business Scale-up and Productivity Program

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP, Patrick Weiler also talked about the potential of the sector

“We know this is going to be key for aviation, freight, trains, other types of energy-dense applications Studies have shown the market for hydrogen will be up to $12 trillion by 2050, and there’s such tremendous potential for Canada to be suppliers for that and developers of some of the applications.”

Weiler said the $2.5 million now was for an industry with high prospects.

“When we’re looking at a return on investment, it’s projected to lead to economic opportunity of about $200 million by 2026, so this is really a tremendous opportunity ”

Founder and president of the company, Dr Calvin Winter, also talked about the role of Quantum Technology in shaping the future

Studies have shown the market for hydrogen will be up to $12 trillion by 2050, and there’s such tremendous potential for Canada to be suppliers for that and developers of some of the applications.

PATRICK WEILER

and the need to reduce carbon footprints in Canada and around the world

“In the hydrogen space, I can promise you that hydrogen will be a part of the energy mix of the future I am not a crystal ball gazer, so I do not know in which sector it’s going to be the most important, but I can promise you that it’s part of the big solution ”

Quantum Technology is the only hydrogen and helium liquefier system manufacturer in Canada and one of two companies in North America that own and operate helium plants.

Funds from PacifiCan’s business scale-up and productivity program are vended out to companies that are ready to scale up programs that are well-developed and expand local job opportunities.

PacifiCan, a federal agency, has existed since 2021 to support industries in British Columbia. It is furnished with over $500 million in funds to allocate to British Columbian companies over the five years from its inception in 2021

PHOTO BY ANDREW HUGHES/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR: On Feb 24, 229 walkers and 53 volunteers came together for the Coldest Night of the Year walk to raise funds for Squamish Helping Hands The event raised more than

1

1 bath condo at The Spectacle in the Garibaldi Estates. North-facing with views of Diamond Head

FOR INDIGENOUS BY INDIGENOUS: THE PATH TO RECONCILIATION THROUGH HOUSING

Aboriginal Housing Management Association offers Indigenous-led housing solutions to bridge the gaps created by colonization

JENNIFER

THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief com

“Our home is where we learn who we are,” says Carol Archie in an Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) video, which features people speaking about the experience of being unhoused

AHMA, the not-for-profit society for Indigenous-by-Indigenous housing authority, is involved with the Esḵéḵxwi7ch tl’a Sp’áḵw ’us Place housing project on Government Road in Squamish.

The 27-unit Hiyám Housing-run residence will house Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) women and children.

AHMA will be the administrator of the operating agreement for Hiyám Housing

BUT WHAT IS AHMA?

Members of the almost 30-year-old organization manage more than 95% of all Indigenous housing units in

urban, rural, and northern parts of B C , and it administers funds for almost 10,000 Indigenous individuals and families

(While journalists and governments typically use the terms “on and off reserve” when discussing housing, this is increasingly seen as colonial language Instead, AHMA refers to those living in “off-reserve” housing as those living in the province’s urban, rural, and northern parts )

Put another way, AHMA members get access to funding, operational and asset management support, as well as access to resources, training and connection with other Indigenous housing providers.

Margaret Pfoh, AHMA CEO, says that the Squamish Government Road housing project addresses a little talked-about aspect of reconciliation

“That gap that was created for Indigenous peoples First Nations, Métis and Inuit through the legacy of colonization of peoples that are finding themselves in urban, rural and northern communities, which are

off reserves across Canada, and disconnected from their communities ”

AHMA also advocates for issues around housing on behalf of its members

“The increased financial pressures on housing providers have been astronomical, and the province simply isn’t in a good place to respond appropriately right now It’s our job to be that advocate; it is our job to say we recognize your financial pressures, we’re going to go after the province, or we’re going to go after the feds, or we’re going to get creative, and we’ll find another funding stream to support providers like Hiyám and allow providers like Hiyám to focus on their job, which is supporting the people that they’re housing,” Pfoh said.

BUT WHY INDIGENOUSSPECIFIC HOUSING?

Pfoh, who has worked in roles supporting Indigenous housing for

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAM SH CH EF

The Esḵéḵxwi7ch tl’a Sp’áḵw ’ us Place housing project on Government Road

three decades, used a personal story to explain why an Indigenous-specific housing authority is needed.

Seven years ago, when Pfoh was hired at AHMA, she was a homeowner in Mission but wanted to rent in West Vancouver, where the AHMA head office is, to avoid traffic snarls having to commute

One rental manager accepted her application and asked her to visit the unit

When she announced her arrival at the building, the manager came out, saw her at the door, but pretended he didn’t and turned around, Pfoh said

“I’m sure I didn’t sound Indigenous enough to him, but when he saw the colour of my skin, he did one of those walk-bys Like, I didn’t see you at the door, and I got ghosted,” she recalled.

“I have a good job, a good income, I have a really good reference. I have my own home.”

The first urban, then-called “native” housing programs were created back in the 1970s when Indigenous peoples found that they were facing racialized discrimination when applying for rentals, Pfoh said.

This still happens, she added.

It is something mentioned in the AHMA video by others who have recently experienced homelessness

“We know it happens even today, and some communities are even worse [than others],” she said

“We know there are some communities that

are overtly disinclined to support Indigenous developments, and so it’s been a huge push and process. Beyond needing to house people because there’s racial discrimination in the community, communities will create Official Community Plans and development barriers that actually prohibit and marginalize the development of Indigenous-led housing programs And that’s happening today”

CULTURALLY SAFE

Indigenous-led and created housing, such as Esḵéḵxwi7ch tl’a Sp’áḵw ’us Place (meaning gathering place of eagles in the Squamish language), is said to be culturally appropriate or culturally safe

But what does that mean?

“There’s just a comfort and confidence that comes when you’ve been living in a marginalized, racially discriminatory life, where you just can’t be white enough to meet community standards having an Indigenous-led organization with Indigenous governance and Indigenous staff is automatically one less barrier to feel like you actually have a chance here, you actually have an opportunity here,” said Pfoh.

“For Indigenous-by-Indigenous housing is an act of reconciliation. It’s an act of helping our communities feel empowered to put culturally relevant housing, in the communities where our people are seeking that sense of belonging ”

You can find out more about AHMA on its website

Find out more about the local Esḵéḵxwi7ch tl’a Sp’áḵw ’us Place project, on Hiyám Housing’s site

Eyco Building Group has been building in the Lower Mainland and Sea-to-Sky Corridor since 1979.

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Our team is focused on providing superior standards, quality craftmanship, and extraordinary customer service.

Reach out to us today regarding your project in Squamish, Whistler, or the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District we’d love to hear from you!

PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS

FINE FEATHERED LOCAL: A red-breasted sapsucker

DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

• 3290 Mamquam Road - Temporary Use Permit

• 38637 High Creek Drive - Temporary Use Permit

• 40241 Aristotle Drive - Temporary Use Permit

• 38795 & 38779 Britannia Ave - Rezoning Application

squamish.ca/review

BUSINESSOPPORTUNITIES

• Street Lighting Fixtures - Request for Information

• Operation of Pedestrian Drawbridge - Request for Information

• WWTP Electrical Service Kiosk Supply and DeliverRequest for Quotations

• Model Review & Bylaw Development: Amenity & Development Cost Charges - Request for Proposals

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

FOLLOW ALONG & JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Canoe Procurement Group Purchasing - Notice of Intent

squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

• University Reservoirs 2 and 3Construction is ongoing, with the two glass-fused steel reservoir tanks now beginning to rise onsite. These tanks have diameters of approximately 17 metres and a height of 10 meters each.

• Wastewater Treatment Plan Expansion and Improvements – Construction is underway through summer 2025 on a new secondary clarifier and concentric bioreactor Learn more:

squamish.ca/wwtp-expansion

• Queens Way Lift Station Maintenance Hole – Construction continues to replace the inlet maintenance hole and reline the wet-well Please follow traffic control measures.

Multicultural Public Skate

Celebrate the world on ice at our Multicultural Public Skate, a vibrant gathering that brings together diverse cultures through music, and skating fun for everyone! Come and meet up with new and old friends and socialize while skating March 9, 12 - 2:15 p.m.

The Spring Guide is Almost Here!

Online Viewing: March 6

Registration: March 13, 8 a.m.

squamish.ca/rec

Sharpen Those Skates

Sensory Friendly Skate

Friday, March 1

Seniors Social on Ice

Wednesday, March 6

VIEW ONLINE SCHEDULES HERE.

squamish.ca/rec

55yrs+ Bus Trip to Bowen Island

Choose your own adventure on stunning Bowen Island! The cost of this trip includes ferry and return transportation from Squamish.

March 13, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Valley Drive Road Bank Repairs –Road bank erosion along the Stawamus River requires repairs along a 35 metre stretch of Valley Drive, located approximately 250 metres east of the Highway 99/Valley Drive intersection. Work starts Monday, March 4 and will result in a full road closure at the work site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Please use Clark Drive as a detour route during the closure Work is expected to take up to two weeks.

SD48 SEES GREATER REVENUES, GREATER EXPENSES IN 23-24

The local school district is spending almost $3 million on leave expenses

SCOTT TIBBALLS

stibballs@piquenewsmagazine com

The Sea to Sky School District (SD48) has an updated budget for the current year, with a revised pile of numbers coming in at the Feb. 14 finance committee meeting.

Revenues are up, but expenses are keeping pace.

In a presentation, SD48 director of finance Elena Meden said revenues are up by $3.93 million over the preliminary budget numbers first projected back in June 2023, to $79.16 million.

A good chunk of that money came from enrolment numbers

“From our projected enrolment, there was a change of 88 75 student enrolments,” she said “[And] 88 75 more students resulted in $1 7 million more in operating grants ”

Enrolments are calculated by the number of units students are taking, not the number of students themselves Overall, the district received $45 5 million in enrolment-based funding from the province

Operating grants from the province were up by $2 26 million to $62 5 million

Other revenue sources, which is a wide definition, produced a mixed bag of results, though International tuition revenues were down by $213,000, while interest income was up by $380,000. Overall, other revenue sources were up $625,000.

Notably, the district’s finances were balanced by bringing in funds from its surplus which is money left over from previous years. Half a million came from unrestricted surplus, while overall surplus funds of $1.7 million were pumped into the revenues column to account for rising costs more than $800,000 more than projected

On costs, as required, they aligned with revenues Meden reported allocated revenues were $79,115,453; $3,983,835 more than in the preliminary budget

Of note, Meden pointed out the large and growing cost of leave expenses with the majority of that cost coming from staff taking more sick time The projected cost was $2 25 million, and the revised number was $2 93 million a difference of $680,000

“As a result of this, the district had to find efficiencies to balance the rest of the budget,” she said

SD48 superintendent Chris Nicholson

Eventually, it’s going to chip away at what we’re able to offer, so it ought to be something that’s on the province’s radar.

CELESTE BICKFORD

NOTICE OF BYLAW READINGS FOR ZONING AMENDMENT

District of Squamish Zoning Bylaw 2200, 2011 Amendment Bylaw (38123 Cleveland Ave) No. 2757, 2023

AFFECTED LANDS: 38123 Cleveland Ave, Squamish B.C.

PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENT: The purpose of the proposed Bylaw is to rezone the parcel FROM Downtown Commercial (C-4) TO Comprehensive Development Zone (CD-111) to develop a six-storey mixed use building which includes 44 residential units and approximately 1,700 square meters of commercial space, including dedicate multi-floor office space

BYLAW READINGS: Consideration of first, second and third reading of the proposed Bylaw will be at the Regular Meeting of Council on March 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish BC No public hearing will be held for this application

LOCATION MAP:

jumped in to say growing leave expenses is a trend across the sector, as the message that those who are sick should stay home was “heard loud and clear”

“Folks are taking care of themselves, post-COVID and then as a result, our costs for sick-leave provisions have gone up dramatically since prior to COVID, which is why we’re seeing these big numbers,” he said

Nicholson said pre-COVID, leave provision costs would have been about $1 million less than the numbers seen in 2024

“We want to take care of our people, but that cost is borne by the district, and that has an impact on the bottom line, which is why we’re speaking to where we’re trying to trim down, why we’re doing a good job supporting our folks, and also why we’re re-allocating from unrestricted surplus,” he said.

“The wellness of our staff is super, super important.”

During discussion, the rising sick leave costs were brought up as an area of advocacy across school districts given the health recommendations that anyone who is sick stay home, with board member Celeste Bickford noting the cost of those recommendations is being borne by the districts, so it should be an area in which the province can step in to help

“Eventually, it’s going to chip away at what we’re able to offer, so it ought to be something that’s on the province’s radar,” she said

For now, Meden talked about areas the district is making adjustments noting almost every line item in support services had reduced expenses in the revised budget, for savings of just over $900,000

The entire budget report can be read on the SD48 website, and the finance committee meeting can be watched on YouTube.

NO PUBLIC HEARING: In accordance with the new Provincial housing legislation, Section 464(3) of the Local Government Act, local governments are now prohibited from holding public hearings related to rezoning applications for developments that are primarily residential and are consistent with the local government’s Official Community Plan (OCP). This proposal meets those requirements

HOW TO VIEW THE PROPOSED REZONING

A copy of the proposed bylaw and related information that has been or may be considered by Council may be inspected online or at Municipal Hall

• Online at: squamish.ca/showcase

• 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia, from February 22 to March 5, 2024 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays

Enquiries regarding the proposed amendment bylaw may be made to the Planning Department at 604.815.5002 or by email to planning@squamish.ca.

This is the second of two notices of bylaw readings.

Dated this 29th day of February 2024 at Squamish, British Columbia.

STUDY OF HEALTH IMPACTS OF FLARING AT WLNG

The satellite emissions data from LNG facilities already built outside of B.C. will help the researchers model how flaring could spread a number of pollutants across the Howe Sound region

STEFAN LABBÉ Glacier Media

Agroup of scientists have launched a two-year study looking at how flaring at a natural gas export terminal slated to be built near Squamish, B C , could affect the health of people across the region

The look into how much air pollution

Woodfibre LNG could emit will begin outside Canada Backed with funding from the federal government, researchers will draw on more than a decade of satellite data measuring air pollution at similar liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals across the world. They will then compare that number with emissions industry said it released.

“We’ve seen that in some cases, more flaring has occurred than what the proponents were saying,” said Laura Minet, an assistant professor in civil engineering at the University of Victoria Gas flaring at LNG export facilities occurs by burning excess methane the main component of natural gas as it’s processed into a liquid for transport overseas According to Woodfibre LNG, flaring can occur at high and low pressures during the course of

maintenance, testing, ship loading and emergencies

Minet, who is leading the project, said that at some LNG facilities built in the U S and Australia over the last decade, outside observers have seen a big gap in flaring-related air

pollution reported by industry and what was measured on the ground But no systematic analysis has ever captured the full scope of what is happening

While the number of new LNG export facilities has spiked in the past decade, so too

has scientists’ understanding of how flaring affects human health

“The fact is, if there’s population close to flaring, and flaring that appears very often, we can highly suspect health impacts on the population,” said Minet

Environmental studies backed by Woodfibre’s proponents 10 years ago showed limited exposure within a 10-kilometre radius of the facility, said the UVic researcher

But Squamish is much closer to the Woodfibre project site than others built in Australia and the U.S., and with a temperature inversion in the region, pollutants could be forced to the ground.

Pollutants from flaring in the Squamish region could theoretically extend to the entire Salish Sea, according to Tim Takaro, a physician and researcher at Simon Fraser University.

“Sometimes the air mass will extend all the way to Vancouver and you know, the whole basin And sometimes it’s more limited,” said Takaro, who will assess flaring’s potential impact on human health

“It really depends on the weather ”

LNG: Continued on 11

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The satellite emissions data from LNG facilities already built outside of B.C. will help the researchers get a better idea on how pollution from flaring could spread around Howe Sound

In a second phase of the study, modelling experts from Texas A&M and the University of Toronto will project the dispersion of a number of pollutants from Woodfibre LNG, including fine particulate matter (PM2 5), nitrous oxides and ozone

Takaro said there’s already evidence flaring can impact birth weight and infant mortality He said they will also provide best- and worse-case scenarios on how chronic exposure to the pollutants could impact rates of asthma and premature death

“We want to break through the industry deception and get a real number,” Takaro said, noting “widely reported” gaps in pollution levels seen in U.S. jurisdictions that host LNG export facilities.

Takaro also pointed to a recent study that found levels of air pollutants over the Alberta oil sands were more than 6,300 times higher than industry reported.

Sean Beardow, a spokesperson for the project, said “Woodfibre LNG is designed to minimize the need for flaring and will only flare in emergency situations or during certain maintenance procedures ”

“During the regulatory process, it was determined that there would be no significant impact to local air quality due to the operation

of the Woodfibre LNG facility,” he added.

Both Minet and Takaro said the regulatory approvals for the project used normal operating conditions as a baseline for flaring pollution. Their analysis will take a deeper look at the first year of operation, which tends to lead to a spike in pollution, as well as emissions when the facility is serviced

“Estimates of the emissions do seem to vary quite widely,” said Michael Schwandt, a medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health

Schwandt said the health authority is collaborating on the study to provide insights into the health of local communities Should the research come back with warnings to public health, the authority also hopes to roll out protective measures

Preliminary results on the gap between industry reported and satellite data is expected within a year Modelling of how flaring pollution could disperse from Woodfibre LNG across the region could come as early as 2026.

That puts the researchers in a race against the Woodfibre’s proponents, who have yet to be granted all their environmental certificates.

A decade after initial environmental approvals were handed to several LNG export facilities in B.C., the scientific research into the health impacts of flaring have advanced, offering a new level of external scrutiny, said the researchers

Takaro said what they learn on the Woodfibre LNG study will inform several other facilities up for approval as far away as Kitimat, B C

“Unlike all the previous projects, we’re going to be watching and they know it,” he said

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WE ALL CARE

We saw a glimpse of the best of our community on Saturday night.

On Feb. 24, 229 walkers from all walks of life, of various ages, and different political bents and backgrounds walked together for one united cause to support locals who are unhoused.

The Coldest Night of the Year walk, organized by Squamish Helping Hands, raised more than $80,000 for the society, smashing its $50,000 goal.

“Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude to have had so many members of our community come together for such a wonderful cause,” reads a Squamish Helping Hands post after the event

“We are very proud to be part of a community who care ”

REPORTER ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@ squamishchief com

@thuncher SALES MANAGER CATHIE GREENLEES cgreenlees@ squamishchief com

MULTI- MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE KIM BOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief com

CIRCULATION MANAGER DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief com

PUBLISHER SARAH STROTHER sstrother@wplpmedia com

And that is the thing so many of us in this town care about those without a home, and about our community.

But, as with many issues LNG, the pandemic, old-versus-new Squamish, tourism residents are talking a lot, but not truly listening to each other.

Everyone impacted by homelessness should be heard: the residents who are unhoused, those who oppose taking down encampments and those who are concerned about the safety and security of the environment and the degradation of certain areas.

No one wants to be cold and wet and unhoused or to have to go to the bathroom outside in public.

No one plans to grow up and suffer addiction or mental illness.

And no one wants to leave the home they work tirelessly to afford and see open drug use, an encampment, trash on trails, or encounter anti-social behaviour.

We all want Squamish to be a safe place to live our best lives. We. All. Want. That.

Homelessness is a complicated issue a shelter bed isn’t the answer for all, just as a peanut butter sandwich isn’t going to feed a hungry person with a peanut allergy.

However, solutions are happening in other places, such as in Finland, which has almost eradicated homelessness

Step one to achieving a local solution is understanding that Squamish is not unique This isn’t due to our particular politicians, “our” homeless population or our “NIMBY” homeowners

The exact same conversations are playing out in communities, literally, all around the globe

Behind the divisive discourse is the shared emotion of fear; fear of not having a safe place to sleep, fear of being attacked for being homeless, fear of being a place just for the rich, fear of the unknown of encampments, fear of a community that is beset by crime, or of our town devolving to the point we can’t live a good life here.

There is a vulnerability in acknowledging that those on the other side of an issue aren’t different from us, but without that, we won’t get anywhere in tackling homelessness or any other issue.

GOODBYE FEBRUARY

GUEST COLUMN MELODY WALES

Valentine’s Day has come and gone I can’t think of any day more depressing, except maybe New Year’s Eve, when you end up in the lineup for the lady’s loo when everyone else is hooting and hollering the year’s countdown and singing Auld Lang Syne

The last Valentine I had was over a decade ago My date had invited me to a costume party on Commercial Drive I dressed up as a saloon girl feather boa, push-up bra, mesh nylons, a red lacy garter and high heels to boot

Anyway, the evening ended up a break-up as, after all my effort, my lover ended up flirting and dancing with everyone else

I’d even bought one of those expensive chocolate roses as a gift (Men like chocolate, too)

I think, like New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day can be a celebration that can often end in disappointment

What happens when the proposal, or the anticipated roses, chocolates or even a card expressing devotion from one’s loved one, doesn’t appear?

How many heartbreaks are there every Valentine’s Day?

However, this V. Day was fun at Westwinds, as we had a sponge cake and tea luncheon and guest Elvis impersonator “Stunning Steve Ju” entertained.

Although often offkey, his acrobatic antics while singing (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear, had everyone in stitches.

February is often a glum month. It’s when you get your income tax forms in the mail.

However, this V. Day was fun at Westwinds, as we had a sponge cake and tea luncheon and guest Elvis impersonator ‘Stunning Steve Ju’entertained.

With many grey, rainy days, it’s holding up to its gloomy reputation

And, this being leap year, we’re even getting an extra day of it

But then, maybe I’m giving February a bad rap

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities this Year of the Dragon prophesied prosperity and good fortune

We recently had Family Day to celebrate, and the sun appeared

Hope you had fun and the family you had it with was your family of choice

February is also Black History Month

B.C. can take pride in fostering black excellence. Famed guitarist Jimi Hendricks, for example, lived and studied in Strathcona, Vancouver. People are now discovering the rich history of that once vibrant downtown Black Vancouver community called Hogan’s Alley.

So, on this last day, I’ve changed my mind about February.

What’s not to like?

Melody Wales is a Squamish resident, veteran columnist, and writer.

Ha7lh skwálwen cht kwis emút cht iy sts’its’áp’ cht iy kw’shétsut cht na7tkwa temíxw tl’a Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw

(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)

THE VIRTUES OF STAYING POSITIVE IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

GUEST COLUMN

JOHN WESTON

In March, one of three candidates will be elected to represent the Conservative Party in the next federal election in the riding I represented, West VancouverSunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country I’ll be the area’s “former MP” as long as I live, but someone else will become the “candidate of record ” That’s the term reserved for a person most recently nominated by a political party any party to represent it in a general election

No one needs my advice, but it may be opportune to share my experience on a question that is typically on people’s minds: “When should a candidate go negative?”

“Going negative” is when a candidate stops communicating about her or his positive attributes and plans; instead, focusing on the shortcomings of the opponent. We increasingly take it for granted that political candidates will “go negative” in a campaign. Is that really necessary? Does it help in the short term?

How does it impact the person’s long-term political career? Besides winning and losing, what are the consequences for the party, the volunteers, the family members, and others implicated in a political race?

GO NEGATIVE – YES OR NO?

I’m writing because, based on my anecdotal experience, it’s possible for politicians to be both positive and successful Many today would dispute that

The question arose immediately in my first of five general elections I contested People accused my main opponent of various integrity breaches failure to pay

business debts, misappropriating family funds, breaching Elections Canada rules, and other matters All of these things were subsequently reported in the media so none of them are revelations

Many were the arguments for me to raise these things publicly Other people did, either to pursue their own interests or because they thought the issues were relevant to my opponent’s fitness for office At such moments, it’s really easy to jump to the conclusion that pinning negative associations to an opponent makes the revealer look better by comparison

But Peter Kvarnstrom and others had a different take on “going negative ”

Then part owner and publisher of Glacier Media, Peter was responsible for a large number of community newspapers in B C , Alberta, and Saskatchewan In many small communities, Peter’s paper would compete against one other newspaper in a small town. His approach?

In public commentary, ignore the competitor. Concentrate only on the best you could become. Let the opponent embroil itself in negative communications.

That approach, Peter said, concentrated your team and you on a path of constant improvement. You might privately learn best and worst practices from the opponent. On the other hand, stooping to contumely only squandered your resolve to pursue excellence

St Paul taught another reason to avoid public conflict with a fellow team member and, remember, a contest like the current nomination contest in my riding is a contest among members of the same political party The victor has to assemble a team, relying heavily on the electors who participate in the nomination contest

In Chapter 6 of his letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote that, as soon as you bring your private conflict into the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DEEP CONCERN OVER ENCAMPMENT DISCOURSE

Iam writing to express my deep concern and disturbance regarding the public discourse within our community around individuals who are unhoused. In January of this year, a petition

LETTERS POLICY

began circulating on social media, titled “Remove Squamish Tent City.” The petition itself encourages the removal of the so-called tent city (approximately four to five tents), citing District bylaws, and threats to public safety. The organizer states: “Working families in Squamish,

public eye, in the eyes of the public, you’re a loser. You should, therefore, solve conflicts privately and with trusted third parties, not in the public square

So what happened in an election where I generally focused on positive things I thought I had to offer, and avoided public comment on my opponent’s shortcomings?

I lost by 1 5% of the vote Only a few vote changes in my favour would have given me the victory in my first outing as a federal election candidate Undaunted, I announced the next day I would continue, and won the next two elections

But what would have happened in the short term if I had slammed the opponent instead of focusing on positive things I set out to accomplish? We can never tell if I would have ended up with the margin of victory Those persuaded to vote for me by my positive approach may have stayed home, or even voted for the other guy.

Secondly, the opponent soon “blew up” politically. The issues he struggled with came home to roost and he was ousted by his political party. Meanwhile, I stuck to my approach, continued to attract a like-minded team, kept all my volunteers, and increased my circle of voters. In the long term, the approach succeeded, and I won the second and third elections I contested.

The analysis is admittedly simplistic. The greatest influence on MP elections is the role of the party and its leader; not the posture of the individual candidate

But as someone new prepares to become the next candidate for the party I represented in my riding, I continue to believe positive is better than negative And I think that positive campaigning is a long-term winner

John Weston served as MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country from 2008 to 2015

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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Have your say at squamishchiefcom

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

Are you excited for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025?

KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT

MOST READ STORY

Squamish Coldest Night of the Year draws over 200 walkers

TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK

This week,reporter

Andrew Hughes took in the Coldest Night of the Year march downtown See this and all our videos @squamishchief on TikTok

property tax paying residents, and all those that expect to live in a safe community environment with their children and grand children, have earned the expectation that the District of Squamish will enforce its own bylaws

LETTERS: Continued on 14

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS: Continued from 13

and ensure the community’s safety”

Conversations about community safety are both important and valid, however, this statement conveniently excludes the very people most impacted by an encampment; those living there. Even more concerning is an update posted by the organizer encouraging those who have signed to take photos and videos of the encampment, and alleged by-law infractions This is a blatant dog whistle to invade the privacy and homes of vulnerable individuals.

At the Feb. 6 council meeting, this group of residents presented the same petition, and their spokesperson made an impassioned plea to council to remove the tents, while assuring viewers that they recognized their position of privilege However, they presented no viable solutions, or requests for engagement from the residents of the encampment in question

Fortunately, council members made it very clear to the group that discussions around encampments are ongoing, and that any potential solutions would not disregard the rights and dignity of any community members They have also committed to including encampment residents in discussions

This is not a new conversation, nor is it unique to Squamish A report published recently by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, authored by the Federal Housing Advocate, calls for an immediate end to forced encampment evictions, particularly those on public land The report states that “forced evictions are a violation of human rights, as contained in Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the right to adequate housing under international law.” It also highlights that the role of police and by-law officers should be de-emphasized in response to encampments

There is legal precedent being set across the country, further reiterating that encampment evictions are inhumane and in contravention of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms In 2022, the city of Prince George sought an injunction to remove an encampment. Both times the injunction was denied by the B.C. Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson cited the lack of low-barrier shelter spaces, noting that while there may be beds available, they were not accessible to the residents of the encampment

All residents of Squamish should indeed be frustrated by encampments. Encampments exist because of systemic failures, and our government’s inability to uphold each individual’s right to adequate, long-term housing It is crucial to remember that encampment residents are also valued members of our community, deserving of dignity and respect Directing frustration towards them, invading their privacy, or subjecting them to harassment is unacceptable. Making the request to the District to

simply “rip down” the encampment does nothing more than further strain relationships and create unrealistic expectations Relocation of encampment residents to a shelter is not a solution, and municipal governments are required to explore all available alternatives to eviction. This includes but is not limited to providing essential services to encampment residents, such as potable water, bathrooms, and fire safety equipment This should be the primary focus of discussions

By fostering a community that respects the rights and dignity of all residents, we can move towards a more equitable and inclusive future for Squamish that genuinely prioritizes safety for all.

Amanda Graves Squamish

QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL HYDROGEN

[Re: “Squamish company gets $2.5-million nod from feds,” published online on Feb. 23.]

We have to be careful please when jumping onboard with taxpayers’ money for new technology

Can someone please explain how much hydropower goes will be going into the production of a ton of hydrogen and/or helium at this new site?

Further, what is the ratio of energy into energy out?

Finally, who will be buying the finished product, and does it make sense to use B.C.’s short supply of electricity for this production?

Even with Site C coming online, I understand B C will be a net importer of electricity for the long term

Dave Heine Squamish

ORCAS’ FUTURE IN HOWE SOUND

Very few would argue that Sea to Sky locals are not privileged to live in such as beautiful and bountiful part of the world Squamish’s wildness on land, in the river, and the ocean is remarkable when you think of its proximity to a metropolitan city How lucky are we?!

This past long weekend, I had the extraordinary opportunity to witness my first orcas in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound. A pod of four to six, including two calves, swam and played in the waters for several hours They navigated back and forth between the proposed Woodfibre LNG site and south of the Squamish spit

The exhilaration of witnessing these majestic and iconic creatures in my local waters spurred my curiosity about the whale populations in Howe Sound and the potential impacts of the proposed Woodfibre LNG facility and FortisBC pipeline

I was thrilled to read that since 2007, there has been an upward trend in orca and humpback whale sightings in Howe Sound This coincided with the establishment of the Britannia Mine’s Water Treatment Plant in

October 2005 and the closure of the Woodfibre Pulp Mill in March 2006 These paired with the habitat restoration initiatives that occurred in Howe Sound, likely enhanced forage fish populations like herring and northern anchovy, as well as the seal population, which, in turn, increased feeding opportunities for the humpback whales and orcas

Further reading made me realize that marine vessel traffic in Howe Sound averaged 1,157 vessels annually between 2014-2016 Such vessels included cargo ships, tankers, tugboats, and cruise ships. Assuming these numbers have increased since 2016, I cannot help wondering how the additional 48 LNG tankers (annually) that are 300 meters long and 43 meters wide will impact the orcas and wildlife of Howe Sound

Reading more about the Woodfibre LNG project deepened my concern with the prospect of three new sources of [treated] wastewater entering Howe Sound two at the Woodfibre LNG site (one for LNG construction and one for the FortisBC pipeline) and one in the Squamish River for the BC Rail site. Could these developments become the tipping point where Howe Sound is onceagain thriving ecosystem takes a downward turn?

Will Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the orcas and all other species in Howe Sound? These questions underscore the delicate balance between economic progress and environmental stewardship.

This is a moment to think carefully and insist that our government and regulators take action to protect the well-being of orcas so that they can thrive, and future generations can experience the joy of seeing them, as I did “Our decisions today sculpt the landscape of tomorrow; the choices we make for our planet now shape the world we’ll call home in the future,” by unknown.

Luke Gatien

Brackendale

VACANCIES LEAVE AN EMPTY FEELING IN THE COMMUNITY

Iam out for an afternoon stroll around Brackendale on a beautiful Sunday. There are eagles overhead, the mountains are a blend of greenery and snow, and there is a mild warmth to the air that suggests spring is just around the corner

I walk the usual path down Government Road, and at the intersection of Eagle Run Drive, my walk has been officially ruined. I am now staring at the glaring eyesore of a closed-down bike shop (formerly Republic Bicycles) and restaurant (The Nest). The former closed over 18 months ago and has been vacant since, and the Nest has recently shuttered

Both spaces belong to a complex, which is relatively large and sits right in the middle of the Brackendale residential community a hub of sorts. As of today, the huge vacant

business spaces straddle only a small, well-loved coffee shop and hair salon, which are still operating in the despair of their surroundings

This is a sight that is becoming all too familiar in Squamish. It feels like we are not doing enough to support our small businesses.

Looking out from the front of where The Squamish Chief is today, for example, the huge space where the Dollar Tree once operated is closed (has been for months) and is looking as hideous and empty as ever I may be unaware of some of the “pro-small-business” initiatives that are in place in Squamish (are there?), but what I see in front of me across the city is evident and obvious too many commercial spaces are not used and we should all wonder why Many of the owners and developers of these properties are not from this community and don’t have to see it every day They may not have the same skin in the game as our residents.

Greed doesn’t go away if left unchecked. Government officials should look into more aggressive policies that would prevent these owners from “taking a write-off,” which may be financially advantageous for them, but makes our culture and community look like it is eroding by the day

I, like many residents of Squamish, came from a small community, even smaller than here. I watched as building after building was vacated, and small businesses gave up due to the high rents. This chronic problem first made the city look increasingly like a ghost town, happening so gradually that people never felt the urgency to address the problem Later, the buildings were demolished, making it look more like an apocalyptic world that humans inhabited only long ago

The lack of support for small businesses in Squamish feels like the result of lazy, uncreative problem-solving by our officials and greed by landlords

Some ideas: maybe adopt a steep vacancy tax on commercial property if you want to leave your property unoccupied so you can take a tax write-off, we will gladly empty your pockets in exchange for you not caring about our community. At the moment, the provincial vacant property tax only applies to residental properties. Another idea would be to add further (and I hate this word) regulation on the pricing of commercial real estate Incentives and penalties drive behaviour, not hope

We deserve to have thriving, sustainable, brick-and-mortar small businesses. Risk should be balanced between the business owner and landowner, but when nearly all the risk falls on the former, it sets good people up for bad outcomes

Let’s stop rewarding greed and start rewarding our community and small business owners, who put passion, conviction, long hours, and even risk into their efforts

Evan Williams Brackendale

A LEAP OF FAITH: CHURCH’S BELL TOWER RESTORATION

St. John the Divine Anglican Church’s bell tower had long been wrapped in a blue tarp

SCOTT TIBBALLS

stibballs@piquenewsmagazine com

For the St John the Divine Anglican Church in Squamish, the journey to finishing repairs on its bell tower and roof has been long, but is almost at its end.

“We’re about three years now since the beginning of the project,” said Rev. Cameron Gutjahr, who explained that what was originally a plan to stop the bell tower from leaking expanded in scope after they took a closer look at the structure on Diamond Road

“As we realized there was a leak that needed to be dealt with, another roof section started to fail, so we threw that part in too ”

Gutjahr explained that upon closer inspection of a simple leak, the structure was revealed to be rotten and falling apart

What had originally been estimated to be a $100,000 job ended up being closer to $300,000 quite the leap of faith in investment that led to the ‘Rev on the Roof’ campaign that involved Gutjahr camping on the rooftop to raise the profile of fundraising efforts.

“That was pretty funny,” joked Gutjahr. “I did it as an opportunity to talk about it and raise awareness. Roofs are not very exciting, so I wanted to bring some levity into this ”

Another source of levity was the ongoing saga of the tower being wrapped in blue tarp for so many years

“It ended up being a little disintegrate-y It was frustrating but also very funny there were memes going around, which I belly laughed about It became a landmark, the big blue tarp Next year, for Halloween, I might just wrap myself in some blue tarp and rope and be the bell tower ”

Together with ongoing fundraising and donations from community members, Gutjahr said the project is just about but not quite complete, besides a few fair-weather finishing touches.

LESSONS LEARNED

Gutjahr said that the process had been a great learning experience

“St John’s has been and is a home to lots of different people over the years, apart from the spiritual community that meets here on Sunday mornings The thing that has been really exciting and really important for me has been taking the opportunity to think about why we’re fixing the roof it’s a nice opportunity to think about why we have this building, and for us, we have this building to serve the community and many different folks it’s good to keep that in focus, but it’s absolutely been a surprise teacher about the lessons of patience and perseverance.”

The inside of the tower is a piece of art too, thanks to the contractor’s artistic flair There’s

bronze cladding and chandeliers on the inside

“Overwhelmingly, the response from the community is that it’s really beautiful, and the inside makes it a lovely reception space ”

The church hasn’t had a celebration for the completion of the project yet, but Gutjahr said being able to use the bell again had been a cause for celebration anyway.

“The bell that’s in the bell tower is an old train bell, from the original church downtown. It’s over 100 years old and used to be on a train that was in the area and was put in the tower. Before, we wouldn’t really ring it because we didn’t know about the structural integrity of the tower ”

Now, it could be used every Sunday and before services

Efforts to repair the roof and bell tower have taken up the majority of Gutjahr’s five years (so far) at St John the Divine, but he said it hadn’t dampened spirits

“A project like this that takes so much time and becomes so expensive can really sap joy we’ve been concerned about it, but there’s still a lot of joy in the community. We’ve held on to our hope and our purpose, and haven’t allowed this to stop us from trying and doing other things.”

Head to the St. John the Divine Anglican Church website to donate to fundraising efforts for the roof and bell tower

PHOTO BY SCOTT TIBBALL/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

St John the Divine Anglican Church’s Rev Cameron Gutjahr and the refreshed bell tower

RESIDENTS CRITICAL OF ROAD MAINTENANCE

District says it annually grades Paradise Valley Road 20 to 30 times

ANDREW HUGHES

ahughes@squamishchief com

Residents on the gravel road in Paradise Valley are calling on the District of Squamish to provide better maintenance, though the District says it regularly maintains the road

Six residents in Paradise Valley met with The Squamish Chief with concerns about the District’s maintenance of the dirt road section of Paradise Valley Road, which starts just north of Midnight Way in the valley near an S-curve.

Several said the road is often filled with potholes and that accessing the area could be troubling in emergencies.

“The potholes are bad,” said Lawrence Lambeau. “But when you add winter into it you add snow, and then you add ice and very freezing temperatures it’s completely treacherous ”

Lambeau said vehicles like ambulances could have trouble on roads in such di i

easily because of the way they’re designed ”

Rebecca Drewry also said there are dangers if everyone needs to get out in a hurry

“The response time is one thing, but what if there’s a forest fire and everybody has to get out?” she said

When the road was at its worst, said Michael Ames, he couldn’t drive faster than 20 km/h, recalling bouncing high enough to hit his head inside the cab of his truck

Several of the residents said it would help if the road could be graded at least once per week.

A spokesperson for the District said, on average, crews are grading Paradise Valley Road between 20 and 30 times annually. This estimation equates to about one to three times per month.

“All gravel roads within the District are graded regularly, including Paradise Valley Road, however, work is weather dependent,” wrote Rachel Boguski in an email to The Squamish Chief “Paradise Valley Road is a rural road that services less than 15 properties within the District of Squamish and additional properties outside District boundaries ebecca Drewry,

ROAD: Continued on 17

Peter Spitzer, John Orr,

ROAD: Continued from 16

within the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD).”

Yet, Drewry said many tenants and tourists use the road beyond the property owners.

“There’s nothing about the tenants, and there’s nothing about tourism,” said Drewry “The tourism is crazy”

For example, the road is considered part of the Sea to Sky Trail At the end of the road, there is a campsite and hiking access to Starvation Lake

“Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people through the summer come up,” said Lambeau

Summertime driving also kicks up dust on the road, which Drewry previously discussed with The Squamish Chief

The District currently estimates that it would cost about $2 million to pave the road, which is double the estimation from Nov. 2022.

That $2 million estimation far exceeds this year’s road maintenance budget. The District has a road maintenance budget of $400,000 for 2024, which covers the entire District’s road network. However, spending is not tracked specifically road by road.

PAVING ROAD A BENEFIT OF PARADISE TRAILS PROJECT

One of the residents who met with The Squamish Chief, John Orr, also works for a Paradise Valley development project called Paradise Trails

Paradise Trails is a project aiming to build

The response time is one thing, but what if there’s a forest fire and everybody has to get out?

REBECCA DREWRY

about 82 homes with rental suites on lots that range in size from about 0 1 to 0 81 hectares (0 25 to two acres) One of the components of the project is paving Paradise Valley Road up to the property Orr asserted the project could pave the road correctly if the District allowed it to advance

The proponent of Paradise Trails recently asked the District to pause the rezoning of the project’s location, due to the area being in a high flood risk zone. The District honoured the request to pause. The District said back in July 2023 that they’ve maintained periodic correspondence with the project’s proponent since 2012, but no development application has been submitted.

The District said residents of SLRD portion of Paradise Valley could “inquire directly with the SLRD about requesting road maintenance ” The Squamish Chief asked BC Hydro about its satisfaction with the maintenance of the road, considering it has an access point off the road, but the company did not reply to the inquiry

PHOTO BY DARRYL SCHWANKE SPECTACULAR SQUAMISH: If you have a fantastic photo to share, send it to news@ squamishchief com

LOCAL TATTOO ENTHUSIAST AIMS FOR ‘INKED’ MAGAZINE COVER

Locals can vote for Sabrina Sarvas, who hopes to share her passion for tattoos by making it to the cover of the magazine devoted to body art

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief com

Squamish’s Sabrina Sarvas is passionate about her 16 or so tattoos and hopes to share that passion by making it onto the cover of Inked magazine

The two-decade-old online site dedicated to the convergence of art, culture, music and, of course, tattoos has an annual contest to find the next Inked female cover model.

The winner also gets US$25,000, a trip to the Bahamas on a private jet for a photo shoot and a tattoo session with renowned tattoo artist and television personality Ryan Ashley.

Sarvas started her tattoo love early and with the permission of her mom when she was 14 years old.

It was a tribal sign on her lower back.

Today, she has between 16 and 20 tattoos, though she is unsure exactly how many she has

“I’ll have to count,” she said

Her body art has been inked by various artists, including a couple at Squamish’s Grateful Tattoo

Asked what she loves about getting tattoos, she said it was a hard question

“I just love it,” she said, matter-of-factly “I like that you

I like that you can basically just wear your heart on your sleeve.

SABRINA SARVAS

can basically just wear your heart on your sleeve ” She doesn’t regret any of the tattoos she has gotten so far She has an arm tattoo that her kids designed she has three children and the rest were simply pieces of art she wanted.

“’I’ve never had a tattoo where I was like, ‘Oh my God, why did I do that?’ Never had that feeling. Never. I never will. I’m going to continue getting tattoos. I’ve got to work on my legs now,” she said.

Given her love of tattoos, it is unsurprising that if she won the Inked grand prize, she said she would use the money to get more tattoos

When not spending time with her kids or getting tattoos, Sarvas likes to work out at local gym, Squamish Barbell

Vote or find out more about her on her voting page: find her by Googling “Inked cover girl Sabrina Sarvas ”

Voting for the Top 10 ends Thursday, Feb 29th at 7 p m PST SUBMITTED PHOTO

TEAM SQUAMISH CYCLING OVERCOMES CHALLENGES

Team fundraiser, including documentaries, a gear sale, silent auction and local racer panellists, to be held March 1

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

It is the team that won’t quit.

Mountain biking development non-profit organization, Team Squamish Cycling, almost folded in 2022, but a group of former members like local enduro racer Rhys Verner and parents, banded together to keep it going.

The possible closure of the team was due to various challenges, including finding coaches.

The team, which develops mountain bikers between 12 to 18 years old, and coaches, revamped and had its best season ever last year, according to its president, Grace MacLeod

“We wanted to create this group where we were always there for them essentially,” said MacLeod, whose son Jack had been on the team, and then earned his coaching certification and started coaching for the team

“Number one, for me, [Team Squamish] has taken so many athletes that could not afford private programming it’s taken so many of those athletes to the world stage ”

The team prides itself on having a foundation of equity inclusion and diversity

There’s a nobody-is-excluded approach

“It creates community,” said MacLeod, adding that while some riders may finish higher in a race, they are all equal on the team

“They all have each other’s backs ”

The focus disciplines of Team Squamish are enduro, and downhill

Members include racers and non-racers

Another reason MacLeod pointed to for

wanting to maintain the organization, was the ability for riders to level up to coach.

“The kids can level up to coach and because they’re racing, and racing is so expensive, those kids need the money from being coaches in order to help pay for travel fees, of that,” she added.

“So it’s kind of an evolution from being a junior racer to doing well to then being able to work for the club and then being able to pay for the racing.”

The coaching crew last year included Ryder Bulfone and Elly Hoskin as co-head coaches. There were female stream coaches: Heidi Schenk, Emily Good, Spencer Pascual, and Marin Lowe; and male stream coaches: Jacob Quist, Ethan Spittel, Gabriel Riopel, James Laurie, and MacLeod’s son, Jack

Most of that coaching staff is coming back for 2024, MacLeod said.

“Our senior coaches are very close to being club coach certified and anticipate a few of them will co-head coach this year,” she added

The team, founded in 2005, had previously had a cap on the number of riders it took on, but in 2023, it lifted that cap Thus, it saw 40 riders in its ranks, up from 20 to 25 youth

Registration for 2024 has closed due to high demand, however the club is seeking community support and sponsorships, “in order to make this year as incredible as last year and to ensure that no child is left behind,” said , MacLeod

FUNDRAISING & CELEBRATION

With the foundation of the revamped organization now in place, MacLeod said the team is looking to celebrate, and also

fundraise.

On Friday, March 1, Team Squamish Youth Cycling will host the Squamish premiere of the Anthill Films’ production, The Engine Inside and Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program’s Dirt Relations Documentary at the Eagle Eye Community Theatre.

The documentary The Engine Inside, “tells the stories of six everyday people from all over the globe, who reveal the unique power of the bicycle to change lives and build a better world,” reads the film’s description.

The Dirt Relations Documentary, “delves into the connection between mountain biking, reconciliation, and healing intergenerational trauma,” according to its website

Some of Squamish’s and the world’s best riders will be on hand for autographs

and a panel, including Miranda Miller, Verner, Bulfone, and more.

The event also includes a gear garage sale that MacLeod said the team members are very excited about, which will include mountain biking gear of course but other items as well.

Luz Tacos will be serving hungry attendees.

There will also be a silent auction. AlpX Expeditions, the tourism division of Blackcomb Helicopters, has already stepped up with an item. MacLeod said they welcome more businesses who may want to add a prize item.

Proceeds go to Team Squamish.

The event runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite at “Squamish Movie Premier[e]: Engine Inside | Dirt Relations ”

PHOTO

Year-end photo of the Team Squamish Cycling male riders

•

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ACCOUNTANT – Prepare financial information, statements, reports and develop internal control procedures. CPA or working towards designation preferred. $26-$32

March 21-April 19

ARIES

You may get the idea to broaden your intellect and spirituality through education. If you have young children on spring break, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover the joys of spending time with them

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

This is a good week to apply for a loan or renegotiate your mortgage You’ll find a lasting solution to your financial problems without sacrificing your comfort You’ll be able to smile and enjoy life once again.

GEMINI

May 21-June 20

You’ll have a heavy workload this week due to many clients, all of whom will turn out to be very lucrative If you’re single, you could meet your soulmate at an event with friends

CANCER

June 21-July 22

Take the time you need to think about certain projects Carefully verify the details and negotiate beneficial terms In your relationship, small gestures will positively impact harmony and intimacy.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Sept 23-Oct 22

LIBRA

Critical minds are gravitating around you. You’ll need to develop solid arguments to confront them You could set yourself apart by clearly expressing what others are thinking in online forums

SCORPIO

You could receive an unexpected amount of money, a refund or an adjustment of some kind. In your relationship, you could be made to wait or postpone a date you were excited about

Oct 23-Nov 21

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22-Dec 21

Don’t rush into any decisions, especially when it comes to money or relationships As you contemplate new beginnings, various elements will slow your progress, teaching you the value of patience

CAPRICORN

Dec 22-Jan 19

Moving requires meticulous planning You must take the first steps and assess the work required. You’ll feel a special pride in arranging your space to your liking, both at work and at home Jan 20-Feb 18

VIRGO

Aug 23-Sept 22

You must prioritize your health this week. You’ll start a new diet that will improve your quality of life and boost your selfesteem. Your perseverance and commitment to yourself will pay off and your achievements will be the proof.

Feb 19-March 20

You may start questioning your career or love life You’ll think about making changes You have a yearning for a better quality of life, which will become stronger This will encourage you to make room for it

AQUARIUS

This week will be marked by a major clean-up, whether at home or work An orderly environment will help you clear your mind. Family and good friends will lend you a helping hand, earning your eternal gratitude

PISCES

If you’re still trying to set your career path, you could have an epiphany which could prompt you to take on a new challenge in line with your aspirations. Change brings abundance. Keep the door open to new opportunity.