BE BEAR AWARE: As we move into the fall, bears will be more active during the hyperphagia phase, meaning hyper eating, as they prepare for hibernation. Thus, make sure garbage is tucked away and that fruit is picked from fruit trees. (Loretta M. Jellis had thought she had picked them all, but this bear found one!)
RETIRING MLA JORDAN STURDY SPEAKS OUT
HIGHER FUEL COSTS IN SEA TO SKY
Sturdy raises concern over high gas prices highlighting discrepancies despite lower local fuel levies compared with Metro Vancouver
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Though retiring from politics, member of the legislative assembly for West Vancouver – Sea to Sky Jordan Sturdy isn’t ready to be full-time on his Pemberton farm just yet.
First, he is making his voice heard on a few Sea to Sky Corridor chestnuts that get his constituents riled up
The one that is sure to get new and long-time locals most in a tizzy is the topic of gas prices in the corridor “Drivers filling up in Metro Vancouver pay the TransLink fuel levy, which goes to fund public transportation in Metro Vancouver. Drivers in the Sea to Sky Corridor do not pay this levy; we do not have a regional transportation system connecting our communities and Metro Vancouver. We, therefore, have a lower tax burden per litre of gas than Metro Vancouver drivers,” said Sturdy in his emailed newsletter, noting that despite this lower burden, we often pay more to fuel up
Sturdy points to the data collected and published by
GAS PRICES: Continued on 3
PHOTO BY LORETTA M. JELLIS
‘TEA AND LEARN PROGRAM’ RECEIVES $23,300 GRANT FOR SENIORS
Local program to benefit from $352,258 in Federal New Horizons funding
BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The federal government has allocated $23,300 to Squamish’s “Tea and Learn” program, a local initiative run by Sea to Sky Community Services, as part of a broader effort to support seniors in the region, according to Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, Patrick Weiler, who made the funding announcement at an event held at Westwinds Squamish Senior Living on Tuesday
The Tea and Learn program is one of 14 projects across West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country that received funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) In total, $352,258 has been distributed to support these initiatives, which focus on enhancing the social participation, health, and well-being of seniors.
“These projects are making a meaningful impact from Madeira Park to Whistler and West Vancouver,” said Weiler.
“While Squamish is known as one of the
youngest and fastest-growing communities in British Columbia, I understand it also has the fastest-growing senior population in the province.”
The Tea and Learn program aims to engage seniors in educational workshops on topics like financial literacy, while also fostering social connections to combat isolation.
“At Sea to Sky Community Services, we are honoured to receive this funding through the New Horizons for Seniors fund Our Sea to Sky Seniors Lunch and Tea and Learn programs will greatly benefit from this support, allowing us to continue providing valuable opportunities for social engagement and learning among seniors in our region, the Sea to Sky Corridor,” said Jaye Russell, executive director at Sea to Sky Community Services, in a news release.
“Staying socially connected and preventing social isolation are essential aspects of healthy aging. These events offer seniors the chance to engage with relevant topics such as fall prevention, living with Alzheimer’s, and other important issues Featuring a variety of guest speakers, including health specialists and local educators, these gatherings foster a more informed and connected senior community. We are grateful for this support, which will have a significant impact on our community.”
Tuesday’s event also was an opportunity to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Sea to Sky Better at Home program, which helps seniors stay in their homes longer.
Volunteers do things such as housekeeping and grocery shopping
The federal allocation of funding prioritized projects that supported healthy aging, preventing seniors’ abuse, celebrating diversity, or supporting financial security.
Other recipients, among others, include $25,000 for the Gibsons Public Market for its Empowering Seniors in 2024 project and the North Shore Volunteers For Seniors for its Advanced Life Planning program.
Weiler acknowledged that while none of the 14 funded initiatives are Indigenous-led, there is a broader federal commitment to prioritizing Indigenous applicants and supporting Indigenous-led programming through other channels
“There’s always a preference for Indigenous applicants when possible, and many other programs are designed to support Indigenous-led initiatives,” said Weiler.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief’s Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
LOCAL WOMAN APPEARS IN COURT ON TERRORISM CHARGES
Kimberly Polman was arrested and charged by the Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team
JEREMY HAINSWORTH Glacier
ASquamish woman charged with alleged ISIS-related terrorism offences will return to Vancouver Provincial Court on Sept. 19.
The RCMP’s Federal Policing Integrated
National Security Enforcement Team said in July it had arrested and charged 51-year-old Kimberly Gwen Polman.
She appeared in court on Aug. 29 to set an appearance date.
Court documents indicate she left B.C. July 21, 2015, information that is in count one of charge documents.
It alleges Polman left Canada to knowingly participate in the activity of a terrorist group for the purpose of enhancing the ability of such a group to its activities.
A second count alleges she participated in the work of the Islamic State at or near the Syrian
Arab Republic between July 25, 2015 and July 27, 2019
Polman was repatriated to Canada in October 2022 and was placed on a series of bail conditions. She has been subject to a terrorism peace bond since Nov. 7, 2023.
~With files from Castanet
PHOTO BY BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Patrick Weiler at the event at Westwinds.
the BC Utilities Commission in 2021, which found what local drivers already know
“Although taxes are roughly consistent among comparator cities, an exception to this is Squamish, where pump prices are similar to nearby cities despite having lower tax rates,” the report reads.
The report also confirms that “retail prices at gas stations in Squamish appear to be somewhat less responsive to changes in the wholesale price.”
(The report also notes that while Squamish has a slightly higher average monthly retail price at stations for regular gasoline, there’s a lower average monthly retail price for diesel.)
Sturdy ultimately surmises that “Sea to Sky drivers are padding retailers’ margins.”
He also points to the B.C. Utilities Commission’s (BCUC) March 2024 report on B.C.’s Retail Fuel Market, which concluded that “the geographic proximity of Whistler and Squamish to Metro Vancouver resulted in these retailers forming a single larger market.”
Sturdy has put out calls to action in response to the situation.
First, he wants the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation to direct the British Columbia Utilities Commission to put together a submission to the Canadian Competition Bureau over the issue.
“It may all come to naught, and maybe the Competition Bureau will say, ‘Oh, well, you know, you need more competition That’s the problem, but they’re not colluding.’ Well, be that as it may, we haven’t gone through that process, and it would shine a light on fuel pricing in the corridor. And, with the Fuel Transparency Act, the BCUC being the administrator of that act and the BCUC having recognized that there is an issue here in the corridor they are best suited with the required and necessary data to put together a submission to the Competition Bureau, and why this government is resistant to that, I don’t know. “
The Competition Bureau is an independent
law enforcement agency that “protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation told The Squamish Chief that the government brought in the Fuel Price Transparency Act for “exactly this reason–to shine a light on unfair price gouging and ensure that companies are held publicly accountable.”
“We are currently reviewing the results of the BCUC’s latest report on retail gas prices and considering what further action may be needed,” the spokesperson said.
FOSSIL FUELS?
Sturdy acknowledged that since he put out his newsletter about the issue of higher fuel prices in Squamish and the corridor, he has had a few people reach out to say that it is better for the cost of gas to be high to get people off fossil fuels, given their contribution to climate change
To that, he says, yes, we want to transition, but that philosophy isn’t a fair burden for those who can’t afford to pay more
“I certainly understand that sentiment, but the problem is that the vast majority of us don’t have a choice. We don’t have an alternative. We don’t have a regional transit system. And we can’t afford to buy a new car, a new clean energy vehicle. We are just stuck.”
‘TRANSPORTATION THAT IS EASY AND AFFORDABLE’
The Squamish Chief approached Sea to Sky candidates running for Sturdy’s seat in the fall election for their perspective on this issue. They, as with Sturdy, responded prior to the announcement the BC United party was withdrawing from the upcoming election
“Transportation that is easy and affordable is something that hard-working families depend on,” said BC New Democratic Party candidate Jen Ford.
“When they were in power, John Rustad and Kevin Falcon made it harder and more expensive to travel by more than doubling ICBC rates, by adding new fees and charges, and by refusing to stand up to oil companies that were making record profits while people were paying the price,” she said “They did it before, and they’ll do it again. As MLA, I will continue to advocate for a Sea to Sky plan that gives people here affordable transportation options. And I will continue the BC NDP’s work to put people first by keeping ICBC rates low.”
PRICE ‘SKYROCKETED’ UNDER NDP
Yuri Fulmer, candidate for the Conservative Party of BC, says that under the NDP government, the cost of fuel in the Sea
to Sky Corridor has skyrocketed beyond control.
“British Columbians are fed up with the rising cost of living that has become crippling for their families Fairness and transparency are the cornerstones of the BC Conservative platform,” he said, in an emailed statement. “Our government will hold large corporations accountable if they engage in unfair and anti-competitive practices.”
BLAME FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
BC Green Party candidate Jeremy Valeriote took aim at the oil and gas industry.
“What Jordan Sturdy calls price gouging in the Sea to Sky, is a symptom of excessive profiteering by the oil and gas industry, to the tune of $3 billion per day, worldwide, for the past 50 years,” said Valeriote.
“The BC Utilities Commission’s finding of gas retailers ‘forming a single larger market’ with the Lower Mainland is just one example of the way they exploit consumers. The industry knows it is on its way out, but will continue to squeeze whatever profits it can, for as long as it can, regardless of the impact on people and our planet.”
Valeriote said that in 2018, the BC NDP government had an opportunity to implement regional transit in the Sea to Sky, with the alignment of all the local governments and First Nations.
“However, they balked,” Valeriote said “So, while we—paying the same gas prices as the Lower Mainland—get a few hourly BC Transit buses, they have the comprehensive, modern TransLlink service. This profound failure of leadership has meant at least six years of paying gas prices as though we have regional transit, without having it at all.”
He said the BC Greens will bring a “comprehensive transit platform” to the election.
“We are also looking at excess profits and how we can make sure that companies are paying their fair share.”
PHOTO BY EDB3_16/ ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Aerial View of Sea to Sky Highway. Residents and visitors alike have long questioned why the price of gas is as high as it is in the Sea to Sky.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE AFFORDABLE TANTALUS MANOR?
‘Many of our people want to return home,’ says Hiyám Housing Society’s Donalene Rapada
BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE
Local
Journalism Initiative Reporter
It will stay a home for those who can’t break into the skyrocketing Squamish market
On Aug. 22, Housing Squamish and Hiy ámta Sḵwxwú7mesh Housing Society (Hiy ám Housing) announced the purchase of Tantalus Manor, a 40-unit apartment building in the Dentville area.
The purchase, completed on Jun. 21, 2024, comes at a critical time when the building was at risk of being lost due to rising rents or redevelopment, which could have displaced long-term tenants such as Dan Pierce.
“I think it’s good for the tenants. There’s nothing worse than getting old on a fixed income and wondering if you’ll have a place to live tomorrow, right? So, this should secure a residence for me for, hopefully, until I don’t need one,” said Pierce, who has lived in Tantalus Manor for almost 20 years.
The building’s purchase was made possible by the Rental Protection Fund, a provincial government initiative launched in January 2023 as part of the province’s Homes for People action plan. The plan includes a $500
million investment to protect existing affordable rental housing in British Columbia, such as Tantalus Manor.
CLOSING HOUSING GAPS
A Housing Needs Assessment done by the District of Squamish in late 2018 found that Squamish needed 488 new affordable rental units, which would be a 7% increase in the current housing. It also showed that 720 households are struggling with affordability.
The District’s housing crisis was further underscored in 2021, when the vacancy rate was recorded at just 0.4%—well below the 3% rate considered reasonable for a healthy rental market, according to the same assessment
The Housing Squamish and Hiy ám Housing partnership reflects the growing need for housing support in Squamish, where affordable options are becoming increasingly thin, said Sarah Ellis, executive director of Housing Squamish.
“Historically, municipalities haven’t directly provided housing,” she said.
“There are a few examples, but often it’s been the senior levels of government—the federal or provincial government—that have delivered housing, either on their own or in partnership with non-profits.”
Ellis said that the creation of Housing Squamish was a significant step for the District to support a local non-profit and bring more resources to the community. “It really shows how serious the affordability challenges in our community have become, that the municipality has stepped up in this way.”
Ellis emphasized the stability this purchase brings to current residents, confirming that “very little will change for existing residents they’ll stay on their current leases and continue to pay the same rent they were paying previously.”
She added that “the average rent in the
Our Nation did a census last year, and about a third of our members responded, with around 75% wanting to return home.
DONALENE RAPADA
building across all units is just over $1,050 per month, which is over 60% below market rents. The building is mostly two-bedroom apartments.”
‘OUR PEOPLE WANT TO RETURN HOME’
Hiy ám Housing, created by the
Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) council in 2019, shares a similar mission to address the urgent need for housing within the Nation.
“Many of our people want to return home,” said Donalene Rapada, director of finance and administration at Hiy ám Housing Society. “Our Nation did a census last year, and about a third of our members responded, with around 75% wanting to return home. This building isn’t on reserve, but it is in the community, close to our services in Squamish, so it’s a good opportunity for our members to return home with affordable rents and access to services our Nation offers.”
Rapada also highlighted the ongoing struggle to meet housing demands within the Nation “Our Nation builds single-family homes, but there’s a waitlist of around 1,000 people,” she said. “We haven’t been able to build enough homes each year to meet that demand.”
BUILT TO LAST, READY TO ADAPT
Tantalus Manor, built in 1965, has stood the test of time, but both organizations recognize the need for future-proofing the building.
“We will be making necessary investments to ensure it remains safe, comfortable, and resilient in the years to come,” Ellis said “There’s support out there for the non-profit sector to access resources to do this, so that’s the plan moving forward.”
For residents like Pierce, the partnership brings peace of mind “I was told everything would remain the same as it was when I signed 20 years ago,” Pierce said, noting that his rent will continue under the same lease terms.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief’s Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Tantalus Manor residents will get to stay in their homes, after the building was purchased.
NEWSBRIEF
KITEBOARDING INVESTIGA-
TION TO WRAP UP SOON: DISTRICT
Itwillbeabit more of awaitfor folkswho have been anticipating theresultofthe District of Squamish investigation, in partnership with theSquamishWindsports Society, into thesafetyofkitingfrom theSquamish oceanfront
Theinvestigation came in thewake ofthe deathofNorth Vancouver’s Gray Taylor,who waskitingfrom Sp’akw’usFeather Park during a gustyafternoon on July 1whenhe waskilledafter hittingthe rocks.
TheDistrictthentemporarily closed therelativelynew park’s watersportsbeach to kiting and launchedaninvestigation into what went wrongand if anything canbe donetoprevent such tragedyinthe future
District staffhad previously said theinvestigation wouldlikelybe doneinAugustbut that hasbeen pushed into September.
“The District of Squamish is reaching theend of this investigation into risk at thewater sports beach andwillbeready to issuea public
Baha’i Faith
update soon to provideclarity on the status of thebeach,” said District spokesperson Rachel Boguski, in an emailtoThe Squamish Chief.
“The District expectstomeetwith theSquamish Windsports Society within thenexttwo weekstoreview thework, andapublicupdatewill followthat.Weappreciateeveryone’s patience whilewecompletethis importantwork.”
ThehugelypopularSp’akw’us FeatherParkopenedtothe public in May.
Whilethe watersportsbeach is currentlyclosedtokiting, wingfoilingand windsurfingcontinueto be permittedthere.
Kiters have continuedtoaccess the original launching spot,Pepahím (SpitIsland),asusual,through the seasonalshuttle serviceoperatedby theSquamish Windsports Society.
Shuttles rundaily betweennoon and7p.m., with access to theshuttle launch near theSp’akw’us Feather parking lot.
Go to squamishwindsports.com forinformation andcurrent conditions.
Theofficialend of thekiting season forSWS membersisSept. 15.
SQUAMISH BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY
Justice aKey Principle for Reconciliation
STRIKE APOSE: Alocal dragonfly.Did you know,dragonflieslovetoeat meat andmostlyfeedon mosquitoes,midges, butterflies,moths,bees, blies, gnats, mayflies, andother dragonflies that aresmaller thantheir size,according to NaturePlusMe
Reconciliation is the processofhealing relationships. Reconciliationisnot merely theact of restoring arelationship;itisa process of healing,forgiveness, and transformation.
Justiceisthe spiritualprinciple thatwill hastenthe processofreconciliation. Bahá’u’lláhwrote: “Nolight cancompare with the light of justice. The establishmentoforder in the worldandtranquility of nations depend upon it.”
The Truth and ReconciliationCallstoAction, outlinea framework for Canada to address injustices of the pastand to move forwardcreating respectful relationships. As individuals we also havearoletoplay through ourdaily interactionsand conversations and byengagingindiscovering the truth, listening to theeldersandkeeping awatchful eyeonhow these callstoaction arebeing fulfilled.
To findout more aboutthe 93Callsfor Actionandtolearn which ones have beenaddressed and whichones remained unfulfilled go to the NationalCentre for Truthand Reconciliation website.
OSON OF SPIRIT!The bestbeloved of allthingsinMysight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thoudesirestMe, and neglectitnot thatI mayconfidein thee.Byits aid thoushalt seewith thine owneyes and not through the eyes of others, and shaltknowofthine ownknowledge and not through the knowledge ofthy neighbor. Ponder thisinthy heart; howitbehooveththeetobe. Verily justice is My gifttotheeand the sign of My loving-kindness.Set it thenbefore thineeyes. –Baha’u’llah Visit squamishbahais.com
An immersive,multidisciplinaryperformance of contemporary dance and live music in thestunning stunning Mill No.3 buildinghostedat BritanniaMineMuseum. September 14th| Doors7:00pm |Show8pm
PHOTOBYBRIAN AIKENS
BritanniaMineMuseum gratefully acknowledges their communitysponsors:
ASPIRING WEST VAN-SEA TO SKY CANDIDATE: FALCON ‘SACRIFICED THE PARTY FOR WHAT?’
A prospective BC United candidate opens up on Kevin Falcon’s decision to suspend the campaign
SCOTT TIBBALLS stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com
Despite holding the riding of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky since 1991, BC United (formerly the BC Liberals) never got around to nominating a candidate to replace outgoing MLA Jordan Sturdy for the 2024 provincial election before it was scuttled and a candidate that didn’t get the opportunity had some choice words to describe the actions of party leader Kevin Falcon.
Long-time party member, Bianca Peters was encouraged to run for the BC United nomination in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, but was rejected after a months-long process for reasons she challenged. The process gave her close insight into the party over the last few months.
A resident of the riding for most of her life and a member of the BC Liberals and now BC United since 1991, Peters said she was first encouraged to run after a meeting with Kevin Falcon over Bill 44, which is part of the NDP government’s housing legislation
“I accepted the opportunity to put my name forth because I wanted to represent the voices of the West Vancouver- Sea to Sky riding’s concerns about density, infrastructure, our hospital, our highway, the removal of the [Squamish] spit, economic development. You name it,” she said
“This is a riding that needs a smooth transition from the good job Jordan Sturdy has been doing in opposition in Victoria so we can move forward
on the needs of the riding from the same song sheet in power.”
It was a very interesting self reflective exercise that only confirmed to myself that I had the experience and knowledge to represent the riding’s issues.
BIANCA PETERS
name-change proposed by Falcon during his run to lead the party in 2022.
“Kevin Falcon is not the leader we should have chosen. He has sacrificed the party for what? I would like to see BC United expel Falcon from the party and find a new leader for the party as soon as possible,” she said
Despite a four-month-long candidate vetting process, Peters said she was rejected by the party because of their research into her background and the issue of Woodfibre LNG in Squamish an issue she had been asked about as part of her campaign to run for District of Squamish council in 2018
“I was ultimately rejected because their researcher discovered a podcast that suggested I was anti-WLNG. This came as quite a shock as I have been a committed advocate of the Floatel and the project to date. I felt that after being a card carrying member since 1991, their researchers would have had a better handle on their information. I was honestly flustered by the party’s response to me.”
Peters said that the party’s failure to select candidates in a timely manner was a sign of what she described as an ‘implosion’, and that the vetting process had made her more confident, not less, and it was a missed opportunity for the party.
“It was a very interesting self reflective exercise that only confirmed to myself that I had the experience and knowledge to represent the riding’s issues.”
Peters was not the only party member in the pipeline for BC United in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, with multiple names shared with Pique as prospective candidates, though none of them appeared to work out. Kevin Falcon told media that he expected to announce a candidate within 45 days of a March 7 interview, while Jordan Sturdy told Pique that someone was going through the vetting process as recently as August 13.
Despite the rejection, Peters remained a party member and had some thoughts on what had happened to the party since then.
“The party has been self-imploding ever since the name change,” she said, referring to the
On the matter of Falcon encouraging party members to unite behind the BC Conservatives, Peters said she would do no such thing, standing her ground on the difference between the more centrist BC United and the party that came up on its right flank.
“We are not the Conservative Party. This feels like fascism and that is a very dangerous place to be.”
Asked about where her vote would go, Peters said she was without a home.
“I’m taken aback. I am still waiting for the dust to settle. I am currently party-less in a sea of politics.”
Whatever happens behind closed doors, in a message to party members on Aug. 30, Falcon again justified his move by saying it was necessary “to prevent another four years of disastrous NDP government.”
Falcon spent most of the email to the party faithful explaining that sacrificing BC United was about stopping the NDP.
“I know that the best thing for the future of our province is to defeat the NDP, but we cannot do that when the centre-right vote is split,” he wrote, before encouraging them to support the Conservatives.
Whether they fall in behind the Conservatives as intended is yet to be seen, with a mixed reaction so far from sitting BC United MLAs: Shirley Bond and Todd Stone have withdrawn their campaigns entirely, while already-outgoing MLA Karin Kirkpatrick has lambasted the decision on X, saying the decision has “left all of us middle-of-the-road centrist voters with no political home here in BC.”
Meanwhile, Premier David Eby and the NDP were quick to adjust their campaign to target the Conservatives and entice disaffected centrists to support them instead.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Bianca Peters
LOCAL COUNCILLOR TO RUN FOR SECOND VP OF UBCM
Jenna Stoner has served as third VP for the last year
SCOTT TIBBALLS
stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com
Squamish’s Coun Jenna Stoner has been nominated to run for second vice president at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM)
Stoner, who has been a councillor with the District of Squamish since 2018, has been on the UBCM executive for the last two years: first as a director-at-large, and currently as third vice president—a position she was elected to in September 2023 in a contested election
UBCM is the peak body of local governments in British Columbia, serving as the go-between for local government and the provincial government in Victoria.
In her nomination package that can be read in the UBCM nominee report, Stoner highlights some of the steps that the executive has taken while she has been a member, such as advancing discussions with the province on local government finance reform, efforts to advocate for local governments under the provincial housing legislation changes, and networking with fellow local government elected officials from across the province
“My time with UBCM has shown me that despite our unique contexts, many of our challenges are shared and the issues we face today extend beyond our individual boundaries,” she wrote.
“I am passionate about advancing solutions on climate issues, local government financing, housing, removing barriers for diverse candidates running for local office, and ensuring a good working relationship with other orders of government no matter what end of the political spectrum they fall on.”
Stoner highlighted her experience working
with stakeholders to improve natural resource management practices for improved environmental and social outcomes
The executive leads advocacy to higher levels of government and guides efforts to co-ordinate local government cooperation.
The nomination package is for consumption by fellow local government elected officials, who will vote on nominees to the UBCM executive, and motions to put to the province at the coming September 2024 convention
While Stoner is currently the only nominee for second vice president as of the July 31 nomination deadline, additional candidates can still be nominated at the convention itself.
Should no other candidate nominate for second vice president, Stoner will be acclaimed to the position, which is held for a year.
JUST THE FACTS
The convention will take place from Sept. 16 to 20 in Vancouver, a little over a month before the province goes to the polls to elect a provincial government. The coming convention will be coloured by the politicking of higher levels of government as the NDP seeks a third term
Traditionally, elected officials who serve as third vice president of UBCM move up the executive until they serve a term as president. There are 13 members of the executive: a president, three vice presidents, five directors-atlarge, one small community representative, one electoral area representative, and two representatives from Vancouver Metro.
Besides Stoner, there is currently only one other elected official from the Sea to Sky on the executive: Coun Jen Ford, who serves as a non-voting member as past president.
No other Sea to Sky officials have been nominated for the 2024 convention.
Sp’akw’usKiteClosure
Thewatersports beach at Sp’akw’usFeather Park on theoceanfrontis temporarily closed to kitesand kiteboarders. While an investigationis underway, kitesare being restricted out of cautiontoensurepublicsafety. Wingfoilingand windsurfing continue to be permitted.
Infrastructure
• Annual Watermain Upgrades: Work will continue within the Mamquam East Industrial Area.
• UtilityInspections:Ongoing throughout Downtown and Valleycliffe. squamish.ca/Building-Our-Future
ProjectScope: Stormditch remediationworkattheintersectionofIndustrial Wayand Highway99will continue this week.Thiswill increase ditchcapacity, improvehydraulics anddecreasesurcharging issues in the IndustrialWay storm system.The DiscoveryTrail will be closedintermittentlythroughout theupgrades. Signageand flaggerswill be in place to direct trailusers during theclosures. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the week
Age-Friendly Community!
TheDistrictofSquamish iscreatinganage-friendlycommunity plan. To help create ourplan, we arereachingout to community membersofall ages -especially seniors whoare comfortablesharing their experiences. Complete thesurveyto share your thoughts!
PHOTO BY AAFREEN ARORA FINE FEATHERED FRIEND:
WHAT’SHAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE
Innovation Challenge &Micro-Grants Program
The DistrictofSquamish Economic Developmentteam invites organizations to apply forthe Circular EconomyMicro-Grants Programand Innovation Challenge. Theseprograms supportbusinesses and non-profitstransitioning to sustainable circular operations and encourage innovation to meet communityneeds. Theapplication deadlineis September 27. Scan the QR code forthe grantguides
InvestSquamish.ca
Seeking AdvisoryDesign Panel Members at Large
Applications arebeing accepted from those interested in volunteering on the DistrictofSquamish Advisory DesignPanel.The Panel reviewsand provides advice regarding developmentpermit applications and any other matter referred forreview by Council.
ThePanel comprises twelvemembers including professionals nominatedbytheir institutes or associations.The Districtiscurrently seeking Squamish residents with an interest in local developmentand designtofill amember at large vacancy.
TheAdvisoryDesignPanel Bylaw, meeting agendas, minutes and committee application form can be found at squamish.ca/committees
Applicants should completeanapplication form and submit with their resume.
By mail:
Melissa VonBloedau,DistrictofSquamish, 37955 Second Avenue,P.O.Box 310, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3
By email: mvonbloedau@squamish.ca
Deadline: 4:30 p.m. on September 30, 2024
AnnualPoolClosure
Brennan Park poolisnow closed forannualmaintenance
The pool willre-open on Saturday, October 5.
DanceGroove (4–6yrs &7–9yrs)
This kidsdanceprogram is afun andcreativeway to keep your child active. We will work on basic dance techniques while building muscle strength,coordination skills,increase flexibility, and improvebalance. Children will learnabout correctposture and body awareness while grooving to differentdancestyles and music. No previous danceexperienceis required. No drop-ins available. Fordetails squamish.ca/rec
Spin –Baby&Me with Cindy Palmer
This is the class where youbring your little one with you! Parents or caregivers can get aworkout while tending to their baby’s needs.Appropriatefor children under one year,ornot yetmobile. Drop-ins available, spacepermitting
Save the Date!
Welcome Back toThe 55! 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Fall is here, bringing the return of our full programming afterour summer break.Join us on Tuesday, September 10 to discover the exciting updateswe’ve made!
TheDistrictofSquamish has developed aDraft Transportation Master Plan to create atownthat everyone can get around in.
Drop by our open house to learn more, speak with members of Council andkey staff, and have your voiceheard.
NoticeofPublic Hearing
September 10,2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Municipal Hall, 37955 SecondAvenue,Squamish, BC
NOTICE is herebygiven thata PUBLIC HEARING will beheld in the Council Chambers at theDistrictofSquamish Municipal Hall,37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia on September 10, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. so that Council mayhear and receiverepresentations from personswho believethat theirinterest in property is affectedbythe following proposed amendments to the DistrictofSquamishOfficialCommunityPlan Bylawand ZoningBylaw:
OCP00006
DistrictofSquamishOfficial CommunityPlanBylawNo. 2500,2017 AmendmentBylaw (ScheduleO-Waterfront Landing Sub Area Plan) No.2956, 2023
To amend Schedule OWaterfront Landing Sub Area Plan forthe entireproperty shown on the Location Map to alignthe Sub Area Plan and DevelopmentPermit Area 13 Guidelines with the proposed zoning amendments forthe South site.
PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT
To amend the CD-40 Zone forthe entireproperty shown on the Location Maptoalignzoning with actual land boundaries,and increase residential units and commercial spaceonthe southernhalf of the site.
A copy of the proposed bylawtobeconsidered by Council canbeinspectedonlineoratMunicipal Hall
• squamish.ca/public-hearing
•37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia, from September 5, 2024 to September 10, 2024 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday.
Enquiries regarding the proposed amendmentbylawmay be made to the Planning Departmentat 604-815-5002.Ifyou do not wish to participatebut would liketowatch the meeting,you can do so by streaming the meeting at squamish.ca/live-meetings
HOWTOPARTICIPATE
Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed zoning amendments will have an opportunitytobeheardand to present written submissions forthe Hearing.Thereare four ways to participate:
1. Written. Youmay deliver awritten submission to hearing@ squamish.ca,ordropoff to the CorporateOfficer at Municipal Hall before4:00 p.m. on the date of the Hearing.For those participating via telephone or electronically,the Districtisencouraging that awritten version of their statementbesubmitted as well.
2 Telephone. Youmay participate by telephone during the Hearing by calling 1-604-449-3026 and entering the Access Code: 277 35197595.Dial *3 to‘raise yourhand’indicating thatyou’d like to speak.You will hear amessage that“your line has been unmuted”when it is your turntospeak.Prior to the meeting, please visit squamish.ca/participate fordetailed instructions.
3. Electronic Participation. Youmay participate electronically in the Hearing through the use of the WebEx platformby visiting squamish.ca/participate Instruction forelectronic participation on WebEx can be found at thatsite.
4. In Person Attendance. Youmay participate in person during the Hearing in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, BritishColumbia.
If youhaveany questionsregarding participation in electronic hearings,please call the Districtat 604-892-5217. Councilwill not consider submissions received afterthe close of the Public Hearing. Allsubmissions will form partofthe public record.
Datedthis 5day of September,2024 at Squamish, British Columbia.
NOTICE OF ELECTOR ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS
DistrictofSquamish Council is considering the adoptionofthe following five Loan Authorization Bylaws.Ifyou objectto one or moreofthese bylaws, please completeand submit an ElectorResponseFormfor eachbylawyou arenotin favour of.Councilwill consider each bylawseparately.
PursuanttoS.86 of the CommunityCharter,any of the Loan AuthorizationBylaws maybeadopted by Council if,after thedeadline,lessthan 10% of qualified electors in the DistrictofSquamish have signed and submitted ElectorResponse Forms.If, afterthe deadline on MondayOctober 7, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. at least 2,037 electors (10% of 20,369) have submitted signed ElectorResponse Forms, the District of Squamish Councilmay not adopt theBylawunless it receives assentofthe electors by voting
This alternativeapproval process applies to all residents ofthe Districtof Squamish who qualify to vote,and responses must be giveninthe form established by Council (ElectorResponseForm) Authorized ElectorResponse Formsare available to the public at Municipal Hall (37955 Second Avenue, Squamish) or online at squamish.ca/aap.DistrictofSquamish residents signing anElectorResponse Formmust meet all the requirements ofa qualified elector on the dayofsigning. If youare not opposed to anyoftheproposed bylaws no action is required.
Project: Whittaker SloughPumpStation
Total ProjectCost: $4,000,000
TheDistrictofSquamish proposes to borrowasum not exceeding $2,303,030 under authorityof“DistrictofSquamish Whittaker Slough Pump Station Loan
Authorization BylawNo. 3058, 2024”
This projectistoinstall adrainage pump station at Whittaker Slough to relievewater from the North Yardsneighbourhood during high rivereventsin accordancewith the Phase 2IntegratedStormwater ManagementPlan.
Repaymentofborrowing and relatedinterest expense will be funded by revenue generated fromproperty taxation no laterthan twenty (20) years from the date of issue.
Based on 2024 taxation rates, the annual debt servicecosts represent approximately $0.88 forresidential owners and $2.26 forbusiness owners per $100,000 of assessed property value
Signed ElectorResponse Formsmust be received by the CorporateOfficer at Squamish MunicipalHall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, BC,before 4:30 p.m. on October 7, 2024, in order to be counted. Formsmay be submitted in person to the CorporateAdministration DepartmentatMunicipal Hallduring regular business hours,mailed to the attention of the CorporateOfficer,oremailed to corporateofficer@squamish.ca
Theproposed bylaws and relatedmaterialsare availableonthe District’swebsite at squamish.ca/aap and at MunicipalHall between the hours of8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday, excluding weekends and statutory holidays. This is the second of twopublicationsofthis noticedated September5,2024.
Project: X̱ wúneḵw Park SeaDike
Total ProjectCost: $18,011,700
TheDistrictofSquamish proposes to borrowasum not exceeding $5,063,402 under authority“DistrictofSquamish X̱ wúneḵw Park SeaDike Loan
Authorization BylawNo. 3064, 2024”
TheDistrictofSquamish has developed adetailed designand submitted permitting applications forthe X̱ wúneḵw Park SeaDike,which will upgrade the shoreline to provide flood protection forDowntownSquamish. Theparkis locatedonthe Mamquam BlindChannel and Loggers Lanebetween Victoria and Main Street
Repaymentofborrowing and relatedinterest expense will be funded by revenue generated fromproperty taxation no laterthan twenty (20) years from the date of issue.
Based on 2024 taxation rates, the annual debt servicecosts represent approximately $1.95 forresidential owners and $4.88 forbusiness owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Project: Loggers EastDrainage Diversion Pipe
TotalProjectCost: $3,100,000
TheDistrictofSquamish proposestoborrowasum not exceeding $1,346,465 under authorityof“DistrictofSquamishLoggersEast Drainage DiversionPipe Loan Authorization BylawNo. 3066, 2024”
This projectistoinstall stormwater pipes in the Loggers East neighbourhood in accordancewith the Phase 2IntegratedStormwater Management Plan recommendations to relieve water levels and reduce flooding in the neighbourhood.
Repaymentofborrowing and relatedinterestexpense willbefunded by revenue generated from property taxation no laterthantwenty(20) yearsfrom the date of issue.
Basedon2024 taxation rates, the annualdebt servicecosts represent approximately $0.52 forresidential owners and $1.30 forbusiness owners per $100,000 of assessed property value
Project: Mamquam Bridge Resurfacing
TotalProjectCost:$5,075,000
TheDistrictof Squamish proposes to borrowasum not exceeding $5,050,505 under authorityof“DistrictofSquamish BridgeResurfacing Loan Authorization BylawNo. 3071, 2024”forthe purposes outlined in the paragraphs below.
TheMamquam Riverbridge has experienced surfacedegradation and requires re-surfacingtoextend the lifeofthe bridge and preventsub-structuredamage. This projectwillrestorethe surfaceofthe Mamquam Bridge and protectthe sub-structure.
Repaymentof borrowing andrelated interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation no laterthan twenty (20) years from the date of issue.
Based on 2024 taxation rates, the annual debt servicecosts represent approximately $1.95 forresidential owners and $4.86 forbusiness owners per $100,000 of assessed property value
Project: CemeteryExpansion
Total ProjectCost: $1,640,000
TheDistrictofSquamish proposes to borrow asum notexceeding $1,656,566 underauthorityof“DistrictofSquamishexpansion of the CemeteryLoan Authorization BylawNo. 3068, 2024”
Phase 1ofcemeteryupgrades involves improvements to the existingSquamish cemetery sitewhich includes pavedaccess and parking,refurbishing the historicgate, adding entryfeaturesand afence, and ascattering garden as an intermentoption. Phase 2and 3includes expansionintothe forested area.
Repaymentofborrowing and relatedinterestexpense willbefunded by revenue generated from property taxation no laterthantwenty(20) yearsfrom the date of issue.
Basedon2024 taxation rates, the annualdebt servicecosts represent approximately $0.64 forresidential owners and $1.60 forbusiness owners per $100,000 of assessed property value
TheSquamishChief is amemberof theNationalNewsmedia Council, which is an independentorganization establishedtodealwithacceptable journalistic practicesand ethical behaviour. If youhaveconcerns abouteditorial content, please contact Editor Jennifer Thuncher at jthuncher@squamishchief.com. If you arenot satisfiedwiththe response andwishtofilea formal complaint, visitthe websiteatmediacouncil.ca or call toll-free1-844-877-1163for additional information
Reproduction of anymaterial containedinthispublicationis expresslyforbiddenwithoutthe prior writtenconsent of thepublisher.
EDITORIAL
DEAR GRANFONDOWHISTLER
Itisnot you; it is us.
Well,itisyou,actually, butitisn’t completely your fault.
On Saturday, 5,000riderswillcycle from Vancouver, 122kilometresupHighway 99 to Whistler in NorthAmerica’s largestGranFondo.
Startingthe same year as the2010 OlympicWinter Games, therideisput on by aprivate Canadian event management company, charging between$200and $440 perparticipant.
Now, there’snodoubt this is abucketlistevent for athleteswho gettoridethe spectacularcorridor protected from trafficthankstothe Ministry of Transportation-sanctioned road closures
With 1,900metresoftotal elevationgain, it’s an athleticfeattobeproud of.Between 50 and100 locals participate
The idea is that it supports sustainabletourism andactivetransportation.
Squamish is theevent hubfor theevent’s staging, trafficmanagement, operations, medical and security, employingover100 Squamish residents, a spokespersonfor theridesays.
Also,thisyear, participantswillbeabletoraise funds forthe YWCA Gear Up program, which exposes kids to hands-on bike mechanics, employmentand life skills.That’scool.
But giventhe—let’s just call aspoke aspoke shitshow thehighway is for locals allsummer, this event makesplentyof us grumpy.
Since itsinception,someresidents have questionedhow muchwebenefit from this for-profit ridethatmakes it harder to getaroundonthe same dayasour beloved,long-standing BrackendaleFall Fair.
“Thisisthe Fondo’s 15th consecutiveyearsharing adatewiththe BrakendaleFallFairand both events have figureditout.Withsofew summer Saturdays available,manyeventsoverlap,” aGranFondo spokespersonsaid.
“Weunderstandall communitiesfromVancouver toWhistler, includingSquamish, areimpacted, but wehopethat theeconomic, social,touristic and environmental benefits outweigh thefew hoursof disruptionone day ayear.”
Thatis thething,though. It is yetanother dayof trafficchaos aftermonthsofputting up with it
And thefactit’sanexclusive eventaddssaddle sores to thewhole thingfor some
Itislikelythatifthere were anon-profit, inclusive event, like an open highwayday whereall thosewho livein thecorridorcould ride,walkorrollthrough the SeatoSky,traffic-free, in supportofthe same charityoranother,mostofuswould turn ourSept. 7 frownsupsidedown. Butthatisn’t what happens. Ultimately,whenyourevent startedin2010, we were amuchdifferent andsmaller place. Now, we are bursting at theseams.So, thankyou forthe last 15years,but youcan’t blameusifweget alittle chaffedwhenyou roll throughtown. Best, Squamish
KEVINFALCON’SSUDDENSURRENDER DESERVES SOME PRAISE
POLITICALVIEWS KIRK LAPOINTE
There should be no doubting that oneofthe most sorrowfulsouls in BritishColumbiathisweekis theprovince’sleaderofthe Official Opposition, Kevin Falcon
Twoyears ago, Falcon left alucrative executiveroleat Anthem Properties to return to politics aftera decade-long detour.Whenheleft, he wasdeputy premierand financeminister, thelatestinastringof cabinetposts and arenownedheavy lifter in theBC Liberalgovernment.
Hisexpectation wasreasonableuponreturn: seven years of NDPgovernmentwould have worn outits welcome by 2024,hewould ascend to thepremiership. The forlornbusinesscommunity wouldcelebrate,as wouldanyonewithanexpense conscience.
That it hasgonesidewaysand downward is in part hisresponsibility, in part hismisfortuneofcircumstance. It wasn’tenoughtohavehim in thesaddle againwithhis earlierbadgesofhonour –heneededto show theprovincehow he couldget theold steedto gallop.Turnedout he didn’t have theformula for giddyup,thathe wasabuckaroogonebust.
On Wednesday, he relinquished thereins to John Rustad,the leader of theBCConservatives,aformer
cabinetcolleague he firedtwo yearsago forquestioningthe degree of humancontributiontothe climatechangeinfront of oureyeseachseasonnow Falcon thoughtthiswas afixed burr in thesaddle; he foundhimself thrown from buckingbronco.
I’msuremanydon’t know thefeeling of losing your dreamjob.Manyyears ago, Idid,and it is asickening experience of regret,shame,anger,denial, defensiveness,embarrassment,desperation andoutrightgrief.It rattlesconfidence, dispiritsyourcarriage, andsends youintolengthy soul-searching –unlessyou disappear into soothingyourselfunhealthily
Falcon doesn’tdeserve thedrubbinghetookthis week.Few do
Instead, he is owed an expression of appreciationfor trying to revive hismasterful ride andrecognizing he doesn’thavethe jamthathethought.Hechose to get down from themount andconcede that he ain’twhat he used to be,thatthe change agentBritish Columbians prefer wantstooffer cleareralternatives than themorevague,incremental measures he’s offering.
Puttingthe province before hispride is atruesignof leadership becauseitinvolvesanenormous,absolute write-down of twoyears of fervent, feverish aggression to dethrone an administration.Travelwhenyou’re bone-tired. Speechesinsmall halls. Food that ages you exponentially. Raisingmoney from people you sometimesdislike butmustappease.Tryingtokeep
(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)
POLITICAL: Continued from 12
the home fires burning through it all.
I signed on for it once a decade ago. I can feel his pain
It is quite possible his stubborn streak got the best of him and held out too long for any true partnership of the BC United and BC Conservative teams. (Joe Biden might be wondering the same thing. Justin Trudeau remains in his own state of denial.) The deal Falcon struck with Rustad, in some respects, resembles more of a divorce than a marriage, but it solves the household bickering and focuses on the NDP for the next 50 or so days
The worst-case scenario was a prolonged irritant for the Conservatives as the United threw Hail Mary passes every day, trying to get out of the deep hole they have fallen into late into the game Better to take a knee
Feel, too, for the dozens of candidates who knocked on doors, raised cash, and thought they had much to offer in public life They’re correctly in mourning today. They now have to either run independently or run later, neither of which offers imminent satisfaction
On the bright side, Falcon saved his team some serious embarrassment Oct. 19. The question is whether he saved the right-of-centre in time or waited so long that his suspension of the BC United campaign is too little, too late to win the day. He might be faulted for waiting, but shouldn’t be faulted for relenting.
He gets his life back, and as you find out after failure to win the prize, and as I can attest, that is no small consolation.
Kirk LaPointe is a Glacier Media columnist with an extensive background in journalism
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
UNITED CHURCH CD FOUND
Many years ago, my extended family and I were part of Squamish, which feels like 100 years ago.
Recently, I found a CD at a Kelowna thrift store: ‘Leaning On The Everlasting Arms,’ home-recorded by the Squamish United Church choir. It’s recorded on a Memorex C/D, handwritten around the edge, with no date The first song is the title of the CD and the last song is “Walk Worthy.” It’s wonderful.
Being a heathen and a sinner, I’ve only been to a few real church services other than weddings and funerals, but if I ever make it back to Squamish on a Sunday, I’d go to this church, if their choir is still singing, and rejoice in their great voices.
I send this letter to the editor thinking
LETTERS POLICY
there may be people in Squamish who were, or still are, part of this choir and have them know it’s still being listened to and appreciated.
Robert Bishop Kelowna
THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF READING
At a visit to the Squamish Library on Aug. 30, my kids and I saw the children’s librarian, Kate Inman, as we often do
She let us know it was her last day at the library before retirement
I felt so fortunate to be there and to be able to tell her in person how much she has shaped and helped my parenting journey.
Books have been the backbone of our lives, from picture books and baby groups to the journey to read and now the lifelong phase of exploring the world
through novels
We had a rocky start to literacy with a language-based learning difference. Kate was able to help recommend high-interest/low-literacy books to keep igniting the love of reading.
I would be remiss if I also did not mention Heather Parker and her help as well Heather opened her personal library to us and had so many tips even though my child wasn’t in her class.
Thank you, Heather!
I am so grateful for the wonderful community at our Squamish Library and how much they do on a small-town budget
We will miss seeing Kate at the library but feel thankful we had her support all these years. She has helped to grow many readers and support parents during the early years of parenthood.
Kate O’Connor Squamish
The Squamish Chief welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words. Letters should be exclusive to this publication and are meant to respond to a local story in The Squamish Chief or raise an issue happening in town Please include your name, neighbourhood and daytime phone number The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for Thursday’s edition. Full names and neighbourhood will be published with the letter The publisher reserves the right to refuse and edit letters for length and clarity or to address legal concerns. Email letters to: editor@squamishchief.com
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TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK
This week, Indigo LemayConway visited local thrift stores Check out this video and many more at @squamishchief on TikTok
PHOTO BY AAFREEN ARORA
FALL IS ON THE WAY: Autumn starts on Sunday, Sept 22 at 5:43 a.m.
PEOPLE’S PARTY TO RUN CANDIDATE IN WEST VANCOUVERSUNSHINE COAST-SEA TO SKY COUNTRY
Peyman Askari said he felt compelled to get involved in politics to push back on government overreach
SCOTT TIBBALLS
stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com
The People’s Party of Canada has formally nominated Whistler resident Peyman Askari to contest West VancouverSunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country at the next federal election.
A network engineer by profession, Askari was born in Iran and lived in Canada since he was six years old. A first-time candidate, he was lauded by the PPC as “a passionate citizen advocating for the restoration of balance between government and individual responsibility.”
Askari brings a broad set of beliefs centred on personal responsibilities to the campaign
“He believes deeply that personal responsibilities, like parenting, education, and the running of one’s business, have been increasingly absorbed by provincial and federal governments,” reads the PPC release on his nomination “Peyman is committed to reversing this
trend, aiming to empower Canadians to take back control of their lives and communities.”
Speaking with Pique Newsmagazine, Askari said he’d felt motivated to get into politics so
that the government would get out of everybody’s lives.
“I am running for the People’s Party, and I do believe in their platform, but if it wasn’t the People’s Party, it would have been something else,” he said, explaining that he felt compelled to get involved however he could.
“Something has changed in Canada I’ve been here since 1989, and this is not the country that I grew up in It is almost impossible for grown-ups to do business without the government getting in the middle of it. They want to monitor our payments, everything above $600 - that’s just absurd. That was my motivation, I felt like I had to do something, and the People’s Party accepted me.”
Askari’s views are broadly informed by personal responsibility and self-determination, as evidenced by his campaign website, which touches on high-level issues such as immigration (advocating to limit intake to those that align with Canadian values), densification (arguing against densification due to a loss of self-sufficiency), supranational organizations (which he argues Canada must extricate itself from), property rights and more
“I’m a big supporter of limited government,” he said
I am running for the People’s Party, and I do believe in their platform, but if it wasn’t the People’s Party, it would have been something else.
PEYMAN ASKARI
splitting votes away from the Conservative Party, having secured over 840,000 votes in the last federal election
“When I look at politics and the ‘uniparty’, to me, that’s like a cartel,” he said ‘Uniparty’ is a concept that political parties all serve the same elite vision regardless of affiliation
Please Contact the SPCA for more details! Visit our website: spca.bc.ca
Cheer and Harmony abonded pair of sisters.
Harmony is theoutgoing sister whohelpsCheer,the shyersister, to feel more confident. The twogirls will need to be the only cats in the homeand willnot do well with dogs.
Harmony hasa permanent grinonher face andCheerhas themost beautiful green eyes. Both girls like to play with wand toys andare quite food motivated.Nosmall childrenwouldbebest.
Asked about local issues for West VancouverSunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, Askari acknowledged that PPC policies “don’t exactly transcribe” down to local matters, with immigration offered up as an example.
“If you come at it with an anti-immigration message, it’s not going to resonate. It’s a tough one, but I would say if you want to bring in foreign workers and it suits your business model, that’s fine, but you have to do a cost-benefit analysis for how it impacts healthcare for example.”
Askari said that healthcare was a matter he wanted to focus on.
“Right now, the healthcare system is kinda getting destroyed, so that’s an area I can focus on and say either we can have a two-tier system or we can have an honest discussion about bringing in this many outsiders, foreigners, this many people that haven’t paid into the healthcare system for decades.”
Askari said that he believed immigration was so high because the Canadian economy had been destroyed by too many regulations, and immigrating rich foreigners allowed the government to recoup taxes.
“Take my family, we’re in property development, it’s almost impossible to work now. If you want to cut a tree down, you have to wait for city hall to give you permission to do so, and if they disagree, they tell you to put a fence around this tree. It’s gotten to a point where it’s not even rewarding for people to work.”
Askari also touched on the issue of vote-splitting, which he said appeared to be pushed by those who wanted to limit change. The PPC has previously been accused of
“I see that they’ve created a political system where they go to the voters and say ‘don’t split the vote or the opposition will win’, and then they go to the candidates and say ‘you can’t talk about these four or five issues otherwise the other candidate might win’
“They’ve fully insulated the system from change, and you add to that the media that just crucifies politicians that go one inch to either side of the Overton Window (a range of policy discussion within public acceptance) and it’s almost impossible to make change. Going back to why I got involved in the People’s Party, to me, they’re more populist and populist basically means you’re not stepping into that ring, I just want to return some sense of normalcy to Canada.”
The next election will mark the third time the PPC has run a candidate in the local riding In both 2019 and 2021, the party nominated Whistler resident Doug Bebb to represent the party, earning 1.55 and then 3.66% respectively in those elections. Bebb remains associated with the local PPC, serving as an agent for Askari’s campaign
Askari will go up against incumbent MP, Patrick Weiler of the Liberal Party. Weiler has represented the riding since 2019 with a plurality of the vote, with 33.9% of voters backing him in the 2021 election
Also in the race is Conservative Party candidate Keith Roy, who works as a real estate agent in Vancouver, and lives in Whistler.
The next federal election will take place on or before October 20, 2025, though it may take place later, on October 27 due to pending changes to the Canada Elections Act supported by the Liberal Party, the NDP and the Greens but opposed by the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois.
SUMITTED PHOTO Peyman Askari
LOCAL CLAYTON CORREIA HOSTS UNIQUE MINIATURE PAINTING WORKSHOP TO ELEVATE SKILLS
Q&A with the local who won silver in the Golden Demon awards.
People are coming from far and wide on Sept 8 to learn from Squamish’s award-winning Clayton Correia.
No, he’s not the more typical ‘Hardwired for Adventure’ elite athlete medal winner; he is a winner in the world of miniature painting.
He took home silver in the Golden Demon Awards, the world’s foremost Warhammer miniature painting and modelling competition, put on by Games Workshop. The competition began in 1987 in the U.K., making it the longest-running such tournament in the world.
He also holds winning titles from Canada’s Sword & Brush competition, which is held annually in Ontario.
On Sept 8th, the local will be at Arrow Wood Games for a Painting Masterclass aimed at helping fellow miniature painters “level up” their skin tone painting
The Squamish Chief caught up with Correia late last week in the back games room of Arrow
Wood to find out more about him and his unique—to Squamish hobby.
What follows is an edited version of that conversation
Q: How long have you been in Squamish, and what brought you here?
A: About six years, and I think for me and my wife, the plan was always to come here We’re both from North Van, and Squamish reminds us of growing up there. That, and the outdoor aspect, the normal stuff that draws people here
Q: What drew you to painting miniatures originally?
A: I was involved as a very little kid. I probably would have been eight or nine or something like that. I would have started with the Games Workshop Warhammer realm of things. And then it is very common for people to go on a hobby sabbatical, which I did.
You learn about video games and cars, and you kind of lose touch with it. And then, I guess about seven years ago, I was living in a 500-square-foot apartment downtown; I work in software, and, I was literally on a screen all day at work, I’d come home, I’d be on a screen, and I was like, I just need something to do with my hands, so I picked up miniature painting again.
Q: And now here you are; you have won several
awards for your craft, including winning silver in the Golden Demon competition in Chicago in March in the Necromunda category. In your post on Instagram from the event, you seemed shocked to have won?
A: I was hoping, for sure As a kid, you don’t even think of participating in that competition; it is such a far-away idea Actually, even when I was on my hobby sabbatical, once in a while, I’d kind of check and see the magazine in a store and want to see what people were entering in the competition and stuff like that So, definitely a lifetime-long thing I wanted to do And there’s a long way to go—there’s gold, still.
Q: And you have gone to at least several international competitions for miniature painting, right?
A: In the last few years, I’ve gone to different international competitions—five Gold Demon events and then the Las Vegas Open. There’s another smaller bunch in the U.K. I’ve been to, and then some in Canada as well.
Q: A tough question to answer given there are a variety of items you paint, but how long does a piece take you?
A: The one I did that I won silver with took about 250 hours.
I had a massive Google document, figuring out all the decisions and what paints I was going to use and thinking about the art theory behind it That specific competition is a very technical
MINI: Continued on 22
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAYTON CORREIA Clayton Correia’s winning piece.
Haveyoutried BlueHouse: KoreanBuffet andSushi?
Thedistrict’s ever-growing foodie scene nowhas another localofferingdowntown
Thenewly opened Blue House: Korean Buffet andSushi,asits monikerreveals, offers auniqueblend of authentic Korean and Japanese food,buffetstyle
“That’swhy we ca communicate.Id speakKorean, and doesn’tspeak Engl Bass said,smiling Together,theym business partnershipand therestaurant work smoothly
He said Squamish wasthe idealplace forKwaktoopenhis dreameatery, noting that they spentalot of time
checking outoptions in Vancouver before deciding on thedistrict.
Theeateryreflectsthe backgroundsof chef and co-owner,Dan Kwak,and co-owner IkukoBass.
Blue House, locatedbeneath th CrashHotel,onCleveland Avenue,openedits doors alittl over amonth ago.
Theco-owners movedto town in December from Kamloops,where Kwak previously owneda restaurant forabout 10 years
Bass translates forKwak, though they don’t sharea firstlanguage. Bass is Japanese,and Kwak is Korean; they both speakJapanese becaus Kwak went to university in Japan.
Squamish didn’t have many Korean options, andofferingbuffetstyle was somewhat unique,and makesitfun for customers, he
foodbeat
Korean items for lunch and dinner available in the buffet include favourites such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), mung bean pancake, jeyuk bokkeum (spicy fried pork), chicken tangsuyuk (sweet and sour chicken), as well as lighter sides such as spring rolls, and Soegogi-muguk (beef and radish soup), among many, many others
There are also cold dishes, like salad, watermelon and strawberry cake
“Also, we added a little bit of good Japanese fusion to the buffet,” Bass said They serve between 15 and 30 items in the buffet
(Check out their social media, such as bluehouse. koreanbuffetsushi on Instagram, for their menu, or stop by and friendly staff can walk customers through it.)
For the uninitiated, the buffet is a set price, and you can order sushi rolls on
the side
Customers have a lot of choices, including gluten-free and vegetarian options.
“Super hungry buffet or sit down for one roll,” Bass said
Kwak said that combining the two cuisines in one restaurant is somewhat unique.
“Equally, together is, I think, unusual.”
Kwak hopes to be successful with this restaurant and help those in need in Squamish, he added.
“To be successful in the way that’s not just making money but that people can come anytime and enjoy,” he said
Kwak has a background in international trade He got into the restaurant business when he moved to Canada He first managed a relative’s
Korean restaurant in Vancouver for a few years. As he was working toward his permanent residency, he worked for a restaurant in Kamloops for seven years. Then, he opened
his own Japanese-Korean restaurant there, which he ran for a decade, becoming a Korean and sushi chef along the way.
Being more of a small town, Squamish offers more of a balanced lifestyle, and access to nature, than he had in Kamloops, he said
“Of course, he has to support the family That’s the main duty, but now, this restaurant, this is his dream. This is full of what he wants to do.”
For Bass, moving to Squamish wa decision She followed Kwak because she worked with him in Kamloops, and believed in his dream too.
Her kids are grown now so it was time to decide what she was going to do next.
“He has lots of dreams He has a big heart,” she said, of Kwak.
“Maybe I can help.”
The pair said they mainly want the community to know that locals and tourists
alike are welcome to come in and try their dishes The goal of Blue House is to make them happy, Kwak said.
The Food Beat is a series from The Squamish Chief newsroom focusing on local restaurants, cafés and eateries that are newly opened or have something newsworthy about them If you think your business fits that bill and would like to be considered for this series, reach out to news@squamishchief.com.
SQUAMISH BUSINESS BEAT: WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE OLD CHURCH ON BUCKLEY AVE?
After extensive COVID-19 renovations, Avant Life Squamish has introduced a bright, modern early learning center with licensed spots for young children
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
If you have driven down Buckley Avenue, past Howe Sound Secondary, over the last few years, you have likely wondered about the beehive of work going on at 38647 Buckley Ave to the 1957-era church building and the surrounding property.
Since 2021, the aging building and surrounding originally overgrown lot have gotten a new life in the form of Avant Life Squamish church, the ministry having been provided use of the location by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC)
After extensive renovations on and off throughout COVID-19 restrictions, the church has also recently opened up Avant Life Early Learning Centre, which is licensed to offer early learning for children aged three to five
While it is a faith-based school, children from all beliefs are welcome, said Alycia Walton, director of early learning at the centre. Walton, along with Pastor Matt Giannakos, whose daughter attends the school, gave The Squamish Chief a tour of the new centre, and showed off the bright, modern building on Wednesday
Both Walton and Giannakos live in Squamish themselves, moving here to start the church and learning centre
This “campus” of Avant Life is the third, with the others in North Shore and Surrey
With tons of natural light that bounces off bright white walls, it is hard to imagine that not long ago, the Squamish building boasted popcorn ceilings, green shag carpet and numerous small dark rooms that are the hallmarks of such 1950s buildings.
The centre, which currently has eight spots for littles, is licensed for 25.
It opened in June, and the centre is located in the basement, which is reached by walking through a locked gate into a playground where students were playing when The Squamish Chief arrived.
PLAY-BASED
There is a play-based philosophy behind the education, meaning educators encourage what the children are interested in, Walton said.
There are different learning areas for different types of developmental milestones.
One of the areas that was a full play kitchen has morphed into a play hospital, complete with a large hospital sign and stuffed “patients”—a duck was apparently nursed back to health in the time The Squamish Chief was visiting
“That kind of thing that promotes their social-emotional play,” said Walton Of course, like most early learning schools, there are arts and crafts, outside time—rain or shine—and reading.
“We are staggering opening the positions because there’s a process of hiring staff and making sure you’ve got the right educators and good educators because that’s also a difficult thing in the early childhood field, is having good quality educators,” said Walton, who has been an early childhood educator for about 20 years.
“It’s one thing to open a centre. It’s another thing to open a good quality learning centre, which is what we really want.”
(Walton noted that the language to describe childcare has shifted from daycares and
childcare centres to early learning centres in order to reflect the educational component both of what is done while children are in their care and the skills and education of the educators who work there.)
While the staff are fully trained early childhood educators, and welcome children from families with any belief system, they aren’t shy about their faith, either.
“We believe that it is really important that
families know that we are faith based. That is who we are, and we’re not hiding it We’re not ashamed of it.,” Walton said There are families that love the fact that we are even though they don’t necessarily believe themselves.”
The changes to the site are not done yet, there are plans for a public coffee shop on the ground floor called Barrio, which means “neighbourhood” in Spanish.
“The early learning centre, coffee shop, church, that’d be the fullness of our expression,” said Giannakos.
“The ‘heart’ behind that is that we’re like the neighbourhood coffee shop that provides excellent coffee in a great space of hospitality for people to come in.”
Giannakos added that they don’t want to open the coffee shop until they are ready to be open full-time, so there isn’t a set timeline for its unveiling yet, but stay tuned.
For more information or to register for Avant Life Early Learning Centre, go to its website: www.avantlifeearlylearning.com.
‘Squamish business beat’ is a regular 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
LOADS OF DAFFODILS to all the volunteers who helped out at the Mini Re-Use-It Fair
The vandalism at the little picnic table in front of the Sea to Sky Hotel and London drugs is unacceptable. So, I send a HANDFUL OF DARTS to the [I assume] youth who vandalize this beautiful spot Three handfuls of darts to irresponsible parents who do not know nor care where their teenagers are at night.
Got something nice to say or some constructive criticism? Send your Darts & Daffodils:
Email: news@squamishchief.com or drop off at The Chief office (38117 Second Ave.) during business hours. Deadline for submissions is Monday at 4 p.m. for Thursday’s paper. All submissions must be signed and include a phone number for verification. Maximum length is 75 words. Darts are intended to be an anonymous critique between private parties Darts must not directly or indirectly identify an individual or business.
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISHCHIEF Alycia Walton, director of early learning at the centre, and Pastor Matt Giannakos.
VICTORIA SADDLEMAN’S ART BRINGS THE STORIES OF HER LAND TO THE SQUAMISH FARMER’S MARKET
Discover how Saddleman, Squamish Farmers’ Market’s only Indigenous vendor, transformed tree branches into art during the COVID-19 pandemic with Sziktsút Creations
BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE
Victoria Saddleman, the only Indigenous vendor at the Squamish Farmers’ Market, started her business, Sziktsút Creations (pronounced Zik-shoot), during the COVID-19 pandemic. She found inspiration for her art from tree branches left to dry near her home.
“They were just left there to dry up, and I thought it would be amazing to use them somehow,” Saddleman said With her father’s help, she began experimenting with wood burning and later moved on to painting “It was a learning process—lots of breaking things and trying again.”
Since its start in 2003, the Squamish Farmers’ Market has grown a lot, attracting more than 145,000 visitors each year. The market hosts over 60 vendors each week and more than 100 vendors throughout the year, according to a new study.
Saddleman remembers how welcoming the other vendors were on her first day.
“It felt like stepping into something new and unfamiliar But everyone there was very welcoming, and I quickly got comfortable,” she said
Market Manager Megan Verge said Saddleman’s presence adds to the market
“Victoria Saddleman’s presence at our market is incredibly valuable,” Verge said in an email.
“She brings a unique perspective and a deep cultural heritage that enriches the diversity of our offerings. Her products are not just items for sale; they carry stories, traditions, and a connection to the land that resonates with many of our visitors. Having Victoria as a vendor helps us celebrate and acknowledge the rich Indigenous history of this area, and it is something we are very proud to support.”
Verge also mentioned that finding Indigenous vendors for the market has been difficult
“Applications open twice a year, and we select our vendors based on location, with Sea to Sky vendors given priority While we usually get a good variety of vendors, Indigenous vendors are harder to find,” she said.
“A couple of years ago, we tried to attract Indigenous vendors to the market, and a board member was assigned to help with this.”
The market has been shifting toward more food-focused vendors, which adds to the challenges
“We’ve found that most Indigenous vendors are in the craft sector, and as the
market changes, we’re moving away from crafts and focusing more on food,” Verge said.
“This shift, along with needing to book six months in advance, can be hard for Indigenous vendors who might be more used to one-off markets where you can book a month or two ahead.”
Saddleman pointed out that the financial and time commitments for the market can be tough “It is a huge commitment—you are there for six hours selling, plus an hour or two for setup, and then another hour after the market For me, the Squamish Market easily turns into a 10-hour day, and the next day I am at the Whistler Farmers’ Market,” she said
To help with these challenges, the Squamish Farmers’ Market offers extra support for Indigenous vendors. “We are always ready to help prospective vendors with the application process,” Verge said.
“If financial constraints are an issue, our board would love to meet with prospective vendors and see what we can do to make their participation possible.”
Saddleman suggested that having reserved spaces or discounts for Indigenous vendors who want to try out the market would be helpful. “Almost like a community table,” she said. “Markets aren’t for everyone, and it would allow people to test it without committing to a full year.”
Verge hopes to see more Indigenous vendors in the future. “We would love to have more food-based Indigenous vendors at the market,” Verge said.
“Offering discounts or reserved spaces would allow them to try it out without committing to a full year.”
The market has a significant impact on the local economy, generating an estimated $7.54 million annually through direct sales and increased revenue for nearby businesses on market days according to the study.
For Saddleman, creating art is more than just a craft—it is a process that reflects the patience and energy she brings to her work “I was always taught as an artist to be patient because the energy you carry within your body comes out in your artwork,” she said.
Saddleman’s journey at the Squamish Farmers’ Market is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage.
“My art is me; that is how I describe it. It is about taking a piece of the land and carrying it with you wherever you go,” she said
The Squamish Farmers’ Market is on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief’s Indigenous affairs reporter This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative
PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTORIA SADDLEMAN
Victoria Saddleman’s pieces are sold at the Squamish Farmers’ Market
HOW TO SAFELY BACKCOUNTRY HIKE WITH YOUR DOG
BC SPCA accredited dog trainer Hilary Webster shares all the tips and tricks to safely hike with your furry friend
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
iLemayConway@squamishchief.com
Taking your dog on a backcountry hike is one of the most popular things to do in Squamish–but being a good off-leash walker might not be enough to keep your beloved pooch safe while adventuring together
The Squamish Chief spoke with BC SPCA accredited dog trainer Hilary Webster to find out all the tips and tricks to safely hike the backcountry with your furry friend and what to do if they get themselves into a sticky situation.
TIPS AND TRICKS
Before you hit the trails with your dog off-leash, Webster suggests teaching your dog recall.
“I would say recall is obviously number one, especially if you’re going on hikes in the backcountry, or you’re out of cell phone range, or near rushing rivers,” the Two Blue Tails dog trainer said
“However, I find that recall in particular can be a challenging one to get into a solid response, because we’re competing with so many other motivators in the environment, like wildlife, other dogs and people
“So, really taking your time with recall in particular is really important. Practice tons
when you don’t need it so that when you do need it, it’s going to be a reliable response.”
Webster suggests practising with long-line leashes and using the “highest value reinforcer” to reward your dog for its good behaviour
“Something like people food is really going to do it for the most part, for most dogs On the contrary, if you’re using something like kibble, that might not be enough for that particular behaviour,” she said
The second tip she encourages working on with your dog is engagement
“Engagement is essentially the two-way conversation you’re having between yourself and your dog. How available are they to respond to something when you cue it and are they just sniffing the ground like you don’t exist, or are they checking in with you?”
Webster said.
“When you’re working on engagement, using food in training can be really beneficial. What that looks like is reinforcing desirable behaviour.
“So whatever your dog does that you like and you want to see more of, give them a treat for that
“There’s a saying in the dog training world, ‘what’s reinforced gets repeated’ so that’s a really good kind of rule of thumb there.”
While it may be tempting to let your dog
explore off-leash for the entire hike, Webster encourages pet owners to “be aware of what your dog’s limitations are.”
“If they struggle with chasing deer or squirrels or wildlife in general; something that’s really not in your control–perhaps they’re not quite ready for off leash yet,” she said
DOGS IN DISTRESS
Earlier this month, Squamish Search and Rescue were called to an incident where Maverick, a dog, had fallen into the Cheakamus River and couldn’t be located.
“Thanks to some nearby climbers who heard his barks, and the incredible assistance of Draganflyinc’s thermal-sensing drone, we found Maverick tucked in a small cave just above the water,” Squamish SAR posted on social media.
“This technical rescue involved navigating both swift water and very steep terrain. Our team was able to lower one of our swiftwater technicians down to reach Maverick and successfully brought him back to safety
“Animal rescues like this one are typically self-funded by Squamish SAR. As dog lovers, we just couldn’t turn this one down.”
WHAT THE HECK IS VERTICAL FARMING
How vertical farming is taking root in the Squamish Valley and beyond
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Down a long dirt driveway in the Squamish Valley, out of cellphone range, wearing a jean jacket and a red cowboy hat is not where one would normally expect to find a successful business and finance guy on a work day, but that is where Daniel Cruz is this late August Wednesday afternoon, as the clouds open and spit down on him.
Cruz is co-founder and chief financial officer (CFO) of Sea to Sky Farms, which has property in the valley on the former land of a hops farm
These days, Cruz has plans to expand his company’s vertical farm enterprise on the property.
Currently, Sea to Sky Farms has an operational vertical farm in Alberta, selling leafy greens.
WAIT.
WHAT IS VERTICAL FARMING?
Vertical farming is growing produce indoors— it’s controlled-environment agriculture (CEA).
In this case, leafy greens are grown vertically in stacked layers
The primary product is living lettuce, meaning it is sold with the roots still attached. It is grown with temperature, light, water and humidity carefully controlled.
The benefits are numerous, Cruz says Hydroponic, vertical farming, which is the planned design for the valley farm, uses vastly less water, less land, less labour, doesn’t use pesticides or fertilizers, and, in the valley, will be powered by B.C.’s hydro-energy grid, which is “renewable and sustainable,” Cruz said.
Grown indoors, the lettuce can be grown and harvested 365 days of the year.
Throw in climate change, which makes growing seasons unpredictable, and vertical farming seems a no-brainer to Cruz, who notes that a lot of our lettuce we buy at the grocery store is imported, leaving us dependent on other areas, such as California
Further, leafy greens imported from California and Arizona have been associated with several outbreaks of foodborne E.coli over the years.
This risk is greatly reduced with vertical farming, which is, as noted, a more controlled environment.
WHY VERTICAL FARMING FOR CRUZ?
Cruz says the catalyst for the business sprouted during the pandemic
“I think in the pandemic, we all learned that getting out of the cities and experiencing nature was important,” he said, noting that he has a long history with Whistler—he currently serves on the board of directors of the Whistler Film Festival Society—but previously didn’t know much about the Squamish Valley.
“I just really thought that agricultural land was not being utilized,” he said, adding he soon realized how much the valley has to offer.
“The Squamish Valley is like a magical place.
Obviously, it’s not your typical farming area,” he noted, glancing up at the steep terrain just north of the Sea to Sky Farms’ property.
“[But] we have power here. We have highway access We have access to water, and I think we can do more with this area.”
He approves of the Squamish Valley Agricultural Plan, the long-term vision for the area aimed to support more agriculture, he said All the lessons of the pandemic, from getting back to the land, to food insecurity with supply chain issues, culminated in vertical farming being the direction to go for Cruz
In 2022, the provincial government clarified that vertical farms are permitted in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and that larger operations are allowed.
Cruz was one of the first to put an application in for approval, he said.
He spent a year with engineers and made other preparations to be permit-ready to have a 20,000-square-foot vertical farming structure on his Squamish Valley property.
The plan was ready to go, but then, among other things, construction costs, such as the cost of steel, made him press pause on that plan, and instead the company purchased a vertical farm already in operation in Alberta in 2023
“We’ve shipped lettuce all the way to Safeway here in Vancouver,” he said, of that Alberta operation
The plan for the vertical farm in the Squamish Valley is still on the table. Sea To Sky is updating the building design to take advantage of vertical farming “2.0” technology, requiring the company to amend and re-apply for permitting with the updated building design In pursuing this goal, Cruz said he and the leadership team now bring additional “hands-on” experience, including operating the company’s vertical farm in Alberta and the farming technology that continues to evolve.
Ideally, he would like to have agreements with trucking companies, some of which drive right by the valley property, to distribute the lettuce.
“We did full statistics on the lettuce consumption here from Pemberton, Whistler, and Squamish, and, of course, Vancouver, and the design of the building was meant to fulfill the
general demand of the Sea to Sky Corridor,” he said
WHY HASN’T IT TAKEN OFF?
Given all it has going for it, why hasn’t vertical farming seen a bigger boon?
After all, it has been around since at least 1990, according to Farm Credit Canada
Yet in Canada, according to Cruz, vertical farming is less than 1% of the supply chain, and in the U.S., it’s just about 5%
Cruz says there are several reasons for this and the highly publicized failures of some agri-tech firms.
“It’s over-investment,” he said, giving one explanation. “Over investment in technology, robotics, and forgetting about the simplicity of just making a profit.”
Another issue is that big grocery stores are really interested in the individual price of lettuce, so it is harder to sell vertically grown live lettuce for what would make a profit at those chains.
There are only a few grocery players, and they often have long-standing relationships with non-local suppliers, he added.
Though it generally doesn’t use pesticides, because it isn’t grown in soil, which is what organic labelling is based on, vertical farming can’t get the organic designation that would open it up to a more premium price.
And consumers aren’t demanding it yet in high enough numbers.
“We do living lettuce with the head on, so that in itself is a big difference from dead lettuce. It is more nutritious and it lasts longer But the consumer is not willing to pay for it yet, because I don’t think they fully understand the options.”
Cruz notes that vertical farming isn’t an end-all-be-all solution to food insecurity
“Vertical farming is not the solution It’s a component that can be used in the food system,” he said
This is also why greenhouse and regular farmers need not fear the competition of vertical farming. It aims to fill a gap, not replace other forms of farming, Cruz said.
Cruz has leased part of his Squamish Valley property to be farmed traditionally. There, fresh flowers and vegetables are grown and sold in subscription models.
Asked what the average person can do to support home-grown vertical farming, Cruz said it starts with what we ask for at the grocery store and what we put on our tables
“I think people need to care about their food I think we need public opinion to pressure people to go local farming.”
~With files from Glen Korstrom/Business in Vancouver
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
Daniel Cruz, on his property in the Squamish Valley.
Aplanned cycling event will takeplace Saturday, September 7, 2024, onHighway1and Highway99, between Vancouver and Whistler
The majorityofridersinthe RBC GranFondo Whistler willdepart from StanleyParkinVancouver between 6a.m. and 7a.m. and cycle over the Lions Gate Bridge,upTaylor Wayand along Highway1and Highway99toWhistler.Someriders will also travel up Cypress Bowl Road beforecontinuing to Whistler
Riders on anothercourse willdepartfromWhistler at 9:15 a.m., cycle southalong Highway99, takeCallaghan ValleyRoad to Whistler Olympic Park and then returntoWhistleralong the same route.
This event will result in temporarytraffic pattern changes,delays and some stoppages on September 7, as outlined below:
Traffic Pattern Changes:
• DowntownVancouver- 5:30 a.m.to8 a.m.
• North andWestVancouver -5a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Squamish -8a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Whistler -9a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Highway1Lane Closures in West Vancouver:
• Upper Levels Highway-eastbound lanes willbeclosed between Horseshoe Bayand Taylor Wayfrom5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m Use Marine Driveeastbound as alternativeroute.
Motorists areasked to allowextra traveltime or plan alternative routes.Please exercise caution, watch fortraffic control personnel andobeyall signs along the route.
Your patienceduring the event is appreciated.
Formoreinformation on trafficimpacts, visitDriveBC.ca or Sept7.info
MINI: Continued from 15
competition, which is why a lot of people like it. And some other competition ones that have done were in about 100 hour range.
Q: And you have painted about 500 miniatures?
A: Oh, yeah At least since I got back into it I just love painting If I’m watching a hockey game, I might have my stuff out and just be painting So, you know, it’s not all to competition level.
Q: So it kind of calms you, then?
A: There’s definitely a strong mental health aspect to it, for sure. Part of that, honestly is it’s just not being on a screen, and it is doing a creative activity with your hands.
Q: The class you are teaching on Sept. 8 at Arrow Wood Games is about flesh tones; why is that? Can you explain a bit why that is what you are focussing on?
A: We’re going to do two things One is just general blending techniques, which for a lot of people when they do tabletop miniatures, is one of the more advanced things they want to learn. They want to learn how to blend effectively so it looks smooth and those types of things
So, we’re going to go through a bunch of techniques, and then we’ll apply that specifically to painting skin tones.
And again, that is one of the first areas that people want to upgrade. If you’re playing a tabletop game and have an army of miniatures, or whatever, generally, some of those miniatures are special characters, and people often want to spend a little bit more time on those, making sure that, for example, the faces look really good
And then skin in general, is just interesting because it takes a lot of skills It takes blending
TRAIN: Continued from 20
Webster said that dogs in distress go into fight or flight mode and hearing their name called repeatedly can often hinder a safe rescue.
“That sympathetic nervous system is activated, and they aren’t necessarily using their thinking brain, they’re using their survival brain,” Webster said.
“So usually calling their name doesn’t actually help this Again, it kind of depends on the dog and what has happened, but sometimes we actually put them further into that fight or flight response if we’re constantly calling them
“If you’ve got a dog that’s in that fight or flight response and isn’t responding to their name and isn’t responding to recall because they’re scared, hanging back a little bit is good, and so is using food
“Then that would be a really good opportunity to [find help] and get that search party in.”
If your dog has run off on a hike and isn’t responding to recall, Webster strongly encourages owners not to chase them.
“Chasing them down in that context is going to probably just make them want to flee even more,” she said
“So having them come to you and waiting
It takes an understanding of light, how the skin is actually somewhat both translucent and shiny to a degree. You have to know a little bit about painting the shapes of muscles. It’s just kind of a good topic to practice
Q: What is your advice for someone who might want to get into the hobby but finds it a bit intimidating?
A: Don’t compare yourself to anyone else The only person to compare yourself to is yourself I have one of the first miniatures that I ever painted, and it’s worse than most people who start nowadays And the community here is actually super welcoming. There are communities in this hobby that are not very friendly. There’s a lot of sexist activity and that type of thing. This community is not like that at all. It’s actually quite welcoming, and the space that they have here at Arrow Games now, we have events. I like hanging out with the people; it’s the social aspect of it
We have people who maybe painted as a kid and are getting back into it, and they’re interested, and people who have never done it before And one day, they come in and see us playing. Next month, they’re there with some miniatures So it’s pretty accessible, and especially nowadays with YouTube—learning how to paint to a basic level, it’s so accessible Find out more about Correia on his Instagram page, clayton_paints.
His class at Arrow Wood is on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 1 to - 5 p.m.
Check out Arrow Wood’s event page online at www.arrowwoodgames.com for more information.
‘About a local’ is a regular column about interesting Squamish residents. If you know someone (who is willing) who you think we should feature, reach out to us at editor@squamishchief.com
for them to approach you is probably a better bet in that context.”
She suggests tossing food towards the dog to encourage it to come towards you without being spooked.
“It’s our responsibility as dog owners to prevent and manage situations like this, and that all comes down to knowing your dog, where you’re going and what the environmental factors that may affect your dog’s behaviour are,” Webster said.
“If they need to be on leash for a portion of the hike or the entire thing then that’s okay.”
WEBSTER’S ADVICE TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE ON THE TRAILS
• Practice recall so it becomes a reliable response
• Always carry treats with you on a hike
• Keep your dog’s microchipping information up to date.
• Put a tag on its collar with the dog’s name and your phone number
• Invest in a Garmin GPS tracker which runs without cell service
• Consider using long-line leashes for dogs who aren’t fully ready for off-leash activities
• If you encounter wildlife, recall them back immediately
• Always bring a first-aid kit with you
Stan Joseph Smart July 31,1933- Aug21, 2024
Stan, affectionatelyknownas"Buster," passedawaypeacefully at Lions Gate Hospital surrounded by hisfamily.BorninMontreal,onJuly31, 1933, Buster's lifewas marked by his dedicationtofamily,career,and an adventurous spirit!
Busterwas an accomplished civilengineer who began hisjourney at theage of 17 working on theSecondNarrows (Ironworkers Memorial) Bridge in Vancouver.This experienceinspiredhim to study engineeringatSt. Francis Xavier University (St. FX)in NovaScotia. He returned to theWestand settled withhis young family in Gold River, Vancouver Island in 1965. Later,hebecamethe Manager of theWoodfiber pulpmill then a respectedconsultant forpulpmills Worldwide. His expertise and leadership in the industrywerewidelyrecognized.
Outsideofhis professional achievements, Buster was aman of many passions.Hewas anavidsailor, skier,and golfer, enjoyingthe outdoorstothe fullest.His love for adventurewas reflectedintheplaceshecalledhome, from Gold River to Lions Bay, with much of histimespent in thebeautiful mountains of Whistler,BC.
Buster wasknownfor hischeerfuldemeanor,his knackfor practicaljokes,and the twinkleinhis eyewhen he knew he had one over on you. His unforgettableone-liners and warm, friendlypersonalitylefta lastingimpression on everyone he met. Buster loved to enjoy adramwithfriends,and hiswelcoming natureand senseofhumor made hima joytobearound.
He is survived by hisbeloved wife, Suzanne, hissons,Stan, John, and Patrick, and his grandchildren, Jake,Luke, Kai, Mathew,and Sarah, whowill allcherishthe memories theyshared withhim
Buster's legacywill liveoninthe hearts of thosewho knew him, and hisspiritwill forever sailonthe winds of themanyadventures he embraced throughout hislife.
A celebration of Buster's lifewill be held at St Anthony’s Church,West Vancouver at afuturedate, wherefamily andfriends will gather to honor awonderful life well-lived
CHRISTINEHELEN TRIBE
March20, 1931 –June 23, 2024
Christine Helen Tribe (Dunn) age 93, of Squamish BC passed away peacefully on June 23rd, 2024 after along battle with Alzheimer/Dementia.
Christine was borninWandsworth Sub-District County of London, England to Sidney Ernest Dunn, &Kathleen Beatrice Dunn. Christine attended the University of London whereshe earned aBAdegree in Teaching in July of 1950 and aminor in ministry.She went on to start her career in teaching in London, England but always wanted to travel.
Later on, she immigrated to Canada whereshe started her Canadian professionalteaching career by graduating from the BC Department of Education on September 11971, with her Professional Certificate She started her firstteaching role with the School District #43 of Coquitlam BC, teachingelementaryschool grades, from whereshe eventually retired. Sheloved these younger grades as she said the children are so wonderfuland full of life and wanting to learnabout everything. She was also along-standingmember of the British Columbia Teachers Association since September of 1968.
On August 27th,1973, Christine married the love of her life, Harold (Hal) at St. Andrews United Church in Port Moody,BC. Christine and Harold weremarried for just over 49 years. She became a stepmother to Tedd and Barry Tribe and astep grandmother to Rob andRuthTribe. This was arelationship of true love and admiration for each other and they became afamily
Christine became aCanadian Citizen on March 10th, 1980 and she loved being aCanadian and was very proud to wear aCanadian flag patch on her backpack while travelling with Harold.
Later on Christineretiredfromteaching and spent amajority of her time travellingaround the globe with Harold and her dear friend Judi. They travelled to over 40 countries and often shared many fond memories with friends and family about their trips abroad giving slide shows of their adventures. In her sparetime,Christine enjoyed participating in church, singing in the church choir,pet sitting, walking, teaching young people and baking.
OneofChristine’sfavourite saying was “What’slife without Laughter”asshe smiled and giggled.
Asmall Memorial Garden service will be held at West Vancouver’sSt. David UnitedChurch, 1525 Taylor Way, West Vancouver,BConSeptember 14at1:00 pm followed by aCelebration of Lifetohonour Christine at Squamish UnitedChurch 38014 4th Ave, in Squamish, BC at 3:30 pm
In lieu of flowers, we would encourage donations to Hilltop House Support Society,38146 Behrner Drive, Squamish, BC V8B 0C2 or the Alzheimer Society of BC.
KrystalLynMeen
July18,1985–September4,2005
ANOTHERYEARHASCOMEANDGONE
They saythere is areason. They saythattime will heal, Butneither time nor reason, Will change the wayI feel, No oneknowsthe heartache, That liesbehindmysmiles, No oneknows howmanytimes, I’vebrokendownand cried, Iwanttotellyou something, So therewon’tbeany doubt, You’re wonderfultothink of, Butsohardtolive without.
Love andMissyou Mum
MEETING PLACE
String Player Wanted
Do you want to make music with others ?Weare looking for string players to join our Sea to Sky String Orchestra Requirements: equivalent to Suzuki book 8/ RCM 7,8
HOROSCOPE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 -SEPTEMBER 11, 2024
ARIES March 21-April 19
Youmay benefit from changingyourlifestyle to improveyourphysicaland mental health.You’ll realize this after overdoingit. These changesmay alsohavea positiveimpact on your work life
TAURUS April 20-May20
You’ll be focusedonyour love life and mayexperience moments of intense happinesswith your partner. If you’resingle,you could meet yoursoulmateand quicklyconsider making a seriouscommitment.
GEMINI May21-June 20
Awell-deservedraise will improveyour financial situation. Your entrepreneurialspirit, creativityand imagination could lead youtostarta successful home-based business.
CANCER June 21-July 22
Minor changestoyour appearance,likenew clothes or anew hairstyle, could boost yourself-esteem.You’ll be able to stand outfromthe crowdand have apositive self-image.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Your attention to detail and eyefor esthetics will be heightenedtenfold, inspiring you to reimagine yourhome decor.You maycome upon an unexpectedsum of money that will allowyou to treat yourself.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Expressing yourself openly and honestlycould increase yourself-confidence.This maycause some jealousybut will alsobring admiration. Otherswill notice your elegance
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Your artistic talents mayhelp you secure asecond source of income.Creatingan exceptional work of artwill be agratifyingachievement despitetime constraints,and you’ll enjoy stayingactive.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Be prepared for a demandingweekas you adjustatworkand home.Compromises will be necessary to restore harmony, and you’ll need to takeaction to restore balance amongthoseclosest to you
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
It’s agreat week to recharge yourbatteries,whether through massage therapyor takingsome alone time to relaxand rejuvenate. Take the time you need to restoreyour energy
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Beingactiveinvarious groups will expand your social circle. Looking put-together will be vital to increasing your network and helping you connect with people who canbenefityour career.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
Delegatingmoretasks can reduce stress at work and home.Avoid worrying excessively aboutyourloved ones —trust yourchildren to make their own choices
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
An extraordinaryopportunity to travel will presentitself However, the main challenge will be findingthe time and money. Be patient and methodical in planningthis incredible escape
HOWTOPLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the numbers1through 9only once. Each 3x3box is outlined with adarker line. Youalready have afew numbers to getyou started. Remember: youmust not repeat the numbers1through 9in the same line, column or 3x3box
Sundays 10am on our website and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org Exalting Jesus,Equipping His Followers,Engaging theWorld
SUDOKU
Pre-constructionworkalong Finch Driveand Industrial Way
Inpreparation forconstructionofthe new EagleMountain-Woodfibre GasPipeline(EGP),crews will be verifyingthe location of existing undergroundutilities. This work includes surveying, electronic roadway scanning, waterpressure(hydrovac)and otheractivities to help identify thelocationofundergroundutilities.
Here’s what youneedto know:
When: Mid-AugustintoSeptember 2024
Where: FinchDrive andIndustrialWay
What:There will be single-lanealternating traffic andconstruction-relatednoise on both FinchDrive and Industrial Way. Traffic controlflaggersand signagewill be in placetohelpkeeptraffic flowingsafely.
We thank youfor your patience as we complete this work safely,and as quicklyaspossible. If youhaveany questionsabout this work,pleasereach outtousat 1-855-380-5784 or egp@fortisbc.com.
