September 12, 2024 - Squamish Chief

Here’s how much the new public works facility could cost us

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

AIRPORT GOES VIRTUAL

U.K. company uses Squamish Airport for its first Canadian flight simulation

NEW CARE HOME TO REPLACE HILLTOP HOUSE, BRINGING 152 BEDS TO TOWN BY 2030

‘Cultural safety and Indigenous involvement are central to what we do,’ says Minister Dix

BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Squamish is set to get a new long-term care home that will provide 152 beds, nearly doubling the capacity of the current Hilltop House.

The $285-million project, scheduled to begin construction in 2027, is expected to open its doors by 2030

“This is the only care home north of West Vancouver, and it serves a really vast geographic region,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix at a press conference in front of Hilltop on Monday morning.

The new facility will be on Loggers Lane, just seven minutes from the current Hilltop House.

The existing facility, built decades ago, currently has 90 beds

“We’re replacing Hilltop House, which has 90 beds in total we’re going to replace it with a new facility that’s going to have 152 long-term care beds,” Dix said Many older residents of Squamish have been forced to move to care homes elsewhere due to the local

CARE: Continued on 5

PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF AT THE FAIR: Crowds flocked to the Brackendale Fall Fair on Saturday, at the Brackendale Farmers’ Institute Park

TIMING COULD RULE OUT THE BUILD OF FORTISBC WORKERS’ LODGE

Company penned a letter to the District revealing the dates they need permit approval by–otherwise the lodge will not be feasible

INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY iLemayConway@squamishchief.com

FortisBC has revealed concerns that approval delays from the District of Squamish could rule out the possibility of a housing lodge for its workers.

The lodge is subject to a temporary use permit (TUP) and, if approved in time, would house up to 400 Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Pipeline workers, with a peak of 600 workers during the summer period

FortisBC vice president of major projects, Mike Leclair, wrote to council stating that the lodge TUP approval would be required by Sept 3 and development and building permits required by Nov. 15

Without approval by these dates, FortisBC says the lodge might not be completed in time for the 2025 peak construction season

“Based on recent discussions with District staff, we understand that the earliest date that a TUP approval could be rendered is following the public hearing planned for Sept. 25, 2024,” FortisBC vice president of major projects, Mike Leclair, wrote to council.

“We are concerned that this leaves little time to work with District staff so that the required development and building permits can be issued by Nov. 15, 2024

“We reiterate that the Nov. 15, 2024 date is critical to having the lodge fully operational by June 2025 in advance of the peak construction period Otherwise, the lodge is not a feasible solution.”

AT THE COUNCIL MEETING

At the Sept 3 council meeting, District director of planning, Jonas Velaniskis revealed a TUP decision would be unlikely to happen earlier than Sept. 25.

“As with any development applications, especially when it’s a variance of the zoning bylaw, we have certain steps that the District or any local government has to go through, which is advertising the permit, preparing the final version of the permit and the staff report,” Velaniskis said.

“So at this point, given that we are anticipating one more trip to the committee of the whole with the temporary permit application, I think just before Sept 25 is probably the earliest possible at this point.”

Velaniskis noted that District staff were “aware of the deadlines” that FortisBC referenced but couldn’t guarantee an earlier timeline

“We’re looking at whether that’s possible, but we can’t guarantee that it is going to be possible to get all the permits. It’s going to depend on the quality of the information that we receive there’s a lot of variables, and it’s certainly a tight turnaround time,” he said.

If approved, the workers’ accommodation would contain 576 beds, with the option to add 36 more, as well as 325 parking stalls and a bus/ shuttle staging area for about eight buses.

The lodge—which is set to be operational in 2025—would house a peak of 600 workers during the summer period

WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT A TUP?

Previously, back in June, when council could not meet Woodfibre LNG deadlines for its floatel workers’ accommodation, the provincial Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) stepped in and mandated that Woodfibre LNG move the floating workers’ accommodation into place on Howe Sound without the TUP.

Leclair said if FortisBC was unable to receive approval of the necessary development and

building permits for the workers’ lodge by Nov. 15, they would not have the sufficient time to construct it by their June deadline.

“In this circumstance, we would seek to implement alternative solutions to manage the peak workforce and minimize impacts to the District for the remainder of the project,” Leclair said.

“For instance, we would seek alternative accommodation for the peak workforce (i.e., the workforce over and above those project workers living in the community today) which would include a portion of our workforce living in the Lower Mainland and being transported to the project site daily.

“Additionally, we would continue with our mitigations for community safety and for the use of local services throughout construction

“This includes the additional mitigations we implemented earlier this year, including the continuation of the gender and cultural safety training, medical services, and third-party respectful community conduct line, as described in the previous letters.”

COUNCILLOR FRUSTRATIONS

Coun. Chris Pettingill did not shy away from his frustration with the FortisBC TUP time constraints.

“I just wanted to highlight in the context of this, that in my estimation, both Fortis and Woodfibre have had unrealistic expectations of our capacity to meet the deadlines that they want over and above most proponents,” Pettingill said

“I’ve seen our staff move heaven and earth and council has endorsed it, but to a level that I’ve been uncomfortable with, given that this project is not driving our strategic goals.

“They have no right to complain about not getting due attention, because they’ve been

getting more attention than anyone else, as far as I can tell.”

Mayor Armand Hurford said he believed council and staff were doing all they could to meet everyone’s needs.

“I’ll remind everyone, including council, that every proponent ever that I’ve engaged with has been challenged with timelines,” he said.

“We always push to do what we can to meet everyone’s needs, including our own, as a council and as staff for review and consideration, I think we’ve done that in this case as well.”

FORTISBC’S REACTION

In a statement to The Squamish Chief, FortisBC said they applied almost two years ago for the lodge TUP but have been continuing to receive new requests from the District

“We have also provided the District advance notice for months of the importance of getting timely approvals so that the lodge can be constructed in time for the summer 2025 workforce peak,” the statement read.

“In a series of letters to mayor and council dated April 9, 2024, June 21, 2024, and Aug. 16, 2024, we communicated timelines by when key decisions would need to be made in order for the lodge to remain a feasible option to house the peak project workforce.”

FortisBC said that while they have concerns about timing, they “care deeply about advancing the lodge based on what we heard through community engagement.”

“We also understand the significant resources required for the District to work through these applications, and have a capacity funding agreement in place to support these efforts,” they said

The FortisBC TUP report was received at the committee of the whole meeting on Sept. 10, before the issue goes to public hearing Sept. 25.

GOT NEWS?

A NEW SQUAMISH NON-PROFIT AIMS TO MAKE HOMEOWNERSHIP

MORE AFFORDABLE

DWIFT Housing Society launches with the goal of building 50 homes in five years, and 300 in the next decade

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

It would be easy to make what they are doing sound cheesy: “Squamish’s ‘Heart House’ is spreading the housing love through town.” That kind of thing.

But what the residents of the so-called Heart House—the large home on the corner of Mamquam Road and Highlands Way South, which dons the colourful lights, and the large outdoor hearts—are trying to do is serious business.

In the midst of this years-long housing affordability crisis, they aim to bring back the ability for middle-income earners to own a home in this community.

They have launched DWIFT Housing Society, a non-profit social venture that aims to sell houses at cost.

WHAT IS DWIFT?

DWIFT stands for Do Whatever It Takes, according to the society’s Sean Easton The society has big plans to ultimately see more middle-income earners be able to own a home of their own in Squamish—in low-rise apartment buildings and townhome complexes—by building homes that would sell for 25% to 30% below market costs. Ultimately, they envision a future where 20% of the district’s housing stock is affordable

The goal is to build 50 homes within five years and another 300 in the next decade. Lofty goals.

But it all started with that Heart House. Easton, his brother, Brett and Karl Bilodeau

built that home; the brothers and their families live in it

“And two dogs, two cats and a hamster,” Easton said with a laugh.

The house is affordable for all who live in it, including Easton’s mother-in-law.

“It’s a simple design, built with some pre-manufactured construction systems. We were able to build it fast and high quality. The design is really efficient. So, we have nine people living in the house, and there’s space for everyone, and our cost of living is quite a bit less than the average renter in Squamish, and we’re living in a newly built custom home.”

But the three builders started to think about

what the next step could be, and DWIFT was born.

“We started exploring, what could we do next? So, it grew from potentially doing low rises into recognizing that the economics of land, which is the more we [can] fit, the more affordable it can be. And we could apply our situation to so many in Squamish. So many people could benefit from this So why don’t we build it to benefit more?”

COMBINING KNOWLEDGE, SEEKING FEEDBACK

Each of the men has skills and experience that they bring to the table.

Easton is co-executive director of the Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, a non-profit dedicated to ending youth homelessness

His brother, Brett, is a designer and entrepreneur.

Bilodeau is a licenced homebuilder who owns Golden Spruce Contracting.

They also have some heavy-hitting advisors from the housing sector, including Squamish Helping Hands Society’s former executive director Maureen Mackell, who retired last year

HOW WOULD THEY DO IT?

In a document which describes their plan, DWIFT lays out the way they say they can provide more affordable home ownership.

Fundamentally, it is by reducing the cost of doing business as homebuilders.

“Our biggest cost savings is achieved by cutting out developer profit margins,” the document reads.

They would also implement “gentle densification,” meaning more units on the property, to reduce the cost of construction

per home.

“As a non-profit we can access below-market lending rates and attract social impact capital,” the document reads.

The homes’ designs would also lend themselves to lower cost per square foot.

“We utilize manufactured construction systems that result in more durable, energy-efficient homes as well as faster build times,” the document states

The DWIFT model has caught the interest of social impact investors as well as the federal housing agency, Welcome to the Community Housing Transformation Centre, which has invested in DWIFT launching its program. They are in the final stages of a feasibility study and ready to make their plan a reality, Easton said

“So we’re at that point now where our model is refined enough that we’re engaging in conversations with the District,” Easton said.

“We ... are looking to purchase property and initiate a project early next year.”

A spokesperson for the District said that the new affordable rental zoning bylaw is intended specifically to attract creative rental housing solutions from the private sector and non-profits

“We have had some preliminary conversations with DWIFT, but there are no commitments or a working relationship/ partnership formed at this point,” said muni spokesperson Rachel Boguski in an email to The Squamish Chief.

HOW IS IT SUSTAINABLE?

To sell homes at cost is one thing, how does DWIFT plan to keep them that way?

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN EASTON

The Heart House on the corner of Mamquam Road and Highlands Way South.

NEWADCAMPAIGNTAKES AIMATLNG

Theads will runonsocialmedia,YouTube andin newspapers

NATASHABULOWSKI, LocalJournalismInitiativeReporter, Canada’s National Observer

Environmental groups arefiring back at pro-oiland gasadvertisementswiththeir owntongue-in-cheek information campaign funded by concernedcitizens. Thecampaign, dubbed “Our Future is Now,” aims to raiseawareness of theclimate, economic,environmental andhealthrisks of expandingthe liquefiednatural gas(LNG) industry in BritishColumbia.

Theads will includehumorousscenes, such as amotheraskingabout afartsmell in aroom andher sonreplyingthatit’s“thestink of LNG robbingmyfuture,”according to thepress releaseissuedonSept. 4. Theads will runon social media, YouTubeand in newspapers Despitethe humour,the campaign emphasizesthat“LNGexpansion in B.C. isn’tfunny at alland is ahugeriskfor taxpayers, ourhealth andthe environment,” thepress releasesaid. Thecampaignisaresponsetoadsfrom fossil fuel advocacygroup Canada Action that claimB.C.LNG will reduce global emissions. Earlierthisyear, Canada’s advertising

regulator—AdStandards –ruled unanimously that this pro-LNGcampaign“distorted thetrue meaningof statements made by professionalsorscientificauthorities”and createdan“overallmisleadingimpression” that LNGisclimate-friendly.

“Expanding LNGinBritish Columbia simply doesn’tmakeany sensewhenresearch shows it canbeasdirty as coal,” says Tracey Saxby, co-founder andexecutive director of My Seato Sky, in thepress release. “Instead,the governmentshouldbeinvesting in renewable energy andotherindustriesthatare abetter betfor ourenvironment,economy, human health andfuturegenerations.”

The PembinaInstitute projects that the combined emissionsfromasuite of LNG projects —LNG Canada Phase1and 2, Cedar LNG, andWoodfibre LNG—willfar exceed theprovince’semissionreduction target for theoil andgas sector

“Doubling thenumberoffrackingwells in B.C. to supply LNGterminals will be aclimate andenvironmental disaster,” Sven Biggs, Stand.earth’sCanadianoil andgas program director,saidinthe pressrelease.The gaswill comefroma fracking fieldinthe PeaceRiver basincalledthe MontneyShale Formation “which climatescientistshaveidentifiedas

Doubling thenumberof fracking wellsin B.C. to supply LNGterminals will be aclimate and environmental disaster.

SVEN BIGGS

Canada’s largestcarbonbomb,”Biggs explained.

Oneadcalls outthe billions in subsidiesand taxbreakshandedtothe LNGindustry. In it,a childcalls hisfatherand says he is shorton rent again, wondering, “Why don’t Iget subsidized like LNG?”

Anotheradcalls into question theeconomic risk of building costly andpolluting fossil fuel infrastructure by suggesting that even a babbling baby “knows LNG’sabust.” Naturalgas is largelymethane,which is

responsiblefor roughlyaquarter of global heating. Methaneleaks into theatmosphere during gasproductionand when thegas is burned it releases plantet-warmingCO2

Thephysicalextractionofgas hasenvironmental consequences,too.Along with environmentaldegradation andpollution,oil andgas companiesinBritish Columbia used record amountsoffresh waterfor their operations in 2023,according to data publishedbythe BC Energy Regulatorearlier this year.

Health is anothermajor concerninthe LNG conversation

Doctorsand healthcare professionalshave been sounding thealarm aboutLNG foryears andhighlightingagrowing body of research on howproducing andusing LNGisimpacting humanhealth.

Environmentalorganizationsparticipating in the‘OurFutureIsNow’campaigninclude My SeatoSky,SierraClubBC, Stand.earth, EnvironmentalDefence Canada,For OurKids andthe BC ClimateEmergency Campaign.A concernedcitizen donated$200,000for the campaign viathe SalalFoundation, according to thegroups.

With filesfromMarcFawcett-Atkinson

CARE: Continued from 1

shortage of beds.

“Our fastest-growing demographic is actually seniors,” said Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “Older people have had to move to care homes on the North Shore or even in Vancouver due to the shortage of beds in Squamish.”

The new care home aims to address these gaps and bring relief to Squamish’s aging population

Dix highlighted the significance of the project, pointing to the historical underinvestment in long-term care across British Columbia

“In the 10 years before I became Minister of Health, the government spent $17 million on long-term care in British Columbia—that’s about three beds a year,” said Dix. “In contrast, our long-term care budget now is $3.2 billion.”

WHY THE DELAYS?

The long-awaited care home in Squamish has faced delays due to under funding and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Dix said that when he took office, 90% of

HEART HOUSE: Continued from 3

To prevent folks from buying an affordable home and flipping it for a hefty profit, Easton says there would be a land agreement with the municipality.

“Where, by granting us the opportunity to densify, we have to put a covenant on the land saying that this is for the purpose of affordable housing, and then that that covenant gets

existing long-term care beds in the province were below staffing standards.

“There was a lack of care for the people in long-term care,” Dix said, adding that many care homes in B.C., built in the 1960s, needed urgent replacement. “We have to replace beds that aren’t going to last, and then we’ve got to add new beds because we’ve got a lot more seniors.”

According to Dix, the pandemic also played a role in delaying the project.

“During the pandemic, we worked on a report called In Plain Sight, which talked about anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system It was critical to address those issues properly, which took time,” he said.

INDIGENOUS INVOLVEMENT AND CULTURAL SAFETY

Dix emphasized the importance of Indigenous input during the planning process, noting that the In Plain Sight report helped guide the project.

“Vancouver Coastal Health has been a leader in this regard, with both members of our board,

transferred on to title,” he said

“At this stage, they’re going to be stratified, so we put [the covenant] on the individual titles of each unit ... And then, in the sales agreement, we retain the first right of refusal to purchase that property again, so that we can manage and direct who the property goes to next. The idea would be that we would maintain that level of affordability throughout the lifespan of the house.”

representing Indigenous communities, including the Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), involved in the project,” said Dix.

This involvement will be reflected in various aspects of the facility, from the meals served to the art and design throughout the building, said Dix. “Cultural safety is central to what we do,” he added at the press conference

“The new building is going to reflect that in its construction and in its day-to-day functioning.”

Dix added that similar efforts have been made in other regions, such as Tk’emlúps (Kamloops), where Indigenous participation has been key to the success of long-term care facilities.

“Indigenous people are here now and will continue to be, and it’s important that the care home reflects that,” Dix said. He also stressed the need to recruit Indigenous people from the region to work in the facility, adding, “We need to create more opportunities for them to work in these facilities, to be part of the community.”

WHAT THEY NEED

Easton said now that DWIFT is a reality, they invite like-minded problem solvers to join them on their mission.

“We’ll be looking for partners and people who are suffering from the same problem that we’re trying to solve so that they can contribute to the solution.”

They are also looking for property owners

FUTURE OF THE HILLTOP HOUSE SITE: WHAT COMES NEXT?

“These are replacement beds for long-term care but there’s a conversation to be had with the community about what happens to Hilltop House,” said Minister Dix.

“This facility could serve other purposes, and we’ll engage with the community on that There are lots of options in terms of care, housing, or other uses,” he added.

“We considered expanding Hilltop House, but building a major facility on a single site was the best option to meet long-term care needs,” Dix said. “Splitting between two locations wouldn’t make sense.”

The existing Hilltop House site could still be “repurposed for other levels of care or housing,” according to Dix, emphasizing a community-driven dialogue.

Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief’s Indigenous affairs reporter This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative

who want to work with DWIFT to purchase their property

“We can pay fair market value but require an extended closing date,” he said. “Those who sell their property to us would be able to stay on their land and downsize into one of our homes, all while supporting other locals to stay and thrive in our community.” Folks can reach out via their still-under-construction website.

BrackendaleFarmers Institute

SQUAMISH PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY COULD COST AN EXTRA $1.3 MILLION IN ‘CONTINGENCIES’

The additional funds would increase the overall budget to $38.3 million–but councillors aren’t sold on the idea.

INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY iLemayConway@squamishchief.com

The cost of the new Squamish public works facility isn’t getting any cheaper.

In a District of Squamish staff report to elected officials for the Sept 3 committee of the whole meeting on the progress of the site, municipal planners revealed an additional $1.3 million could be tacked onto the $37 million budget already planned for the project.

The District’s director of facility planning and construction, Kal Bragg, explained at the meeting that the additional funds would be for a “contingency.”

“Currently, in the five-year financial plan, we’re at $37 million. The Class A has come back at $36.3 million that includes a risk register of $1.35 million,” Bragg said.

“What a risk register is, is a very specific best guess, but an intrinsic number of what could go wrong specifically on this project. This doesn’t include an overall client-side contingency.

“The Royal Architect Institute of Canada recommends a 5% contingency at Class A. Staff

have dove into this with the project team, and we’re looking at increasing that by 0.4% and the reason for that is that we’re still in the ground “There’s risk and a lot of unknowns still with

Sp’akw’us Kite Closure

Thewatersportsbeach at Sp’akw’us Feather Park on theoceanfront is temporarily closed to kitesand kiteboarders. While an investigation is underway,kites arebeingrestricted outofcautionto ensure publicsafety. Wingfoiling and windsurfingcontinue to be permitted

Infrastructure

• Annual Watermain Upgrades: Work will continue within theMamquam East Industrial Area.

• UtilityInspections:Downtownutilityinspections will resume thelast week of September squamish.ca/Building-Our-Future

BusinessOpportunities

• Engineering Services –Major ProjectsIndustrial –Request forProposals

• Communications and Regulatory Affairs –MajorProjects Industrial –Request forProposals

• JimmyJimmy(Judd) Slough Dike Upgrade –Detailed Design– Request forProposals squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

DevelopmentReview

• 38716, 38710, 38702 BritanniaAvenue –Zoning Amendment squamish.ca/review

this project.”

A Class A estimate is based on completed construction drawings and specifications and is the point where the project is ready to go out to tender.

“The level of accuracy of a Class A budget is at least 95% accuracy,” said a District spokesperson

A BIT OF HISTORY

The public works facility had a contentious start. In the spring of 2022, 1,700 residents cast ballots against the project in an alternate approval process (AAP) where the District proposed borrowing $ 16 million for the project.

With AAPs, if 10% of the population votes against a municipal request, it fails.

During the summer of 2022, the proposal was floated in an AAP process again, but this time asking to borrow $20.2 million.

This time, the proposal passed.

In early 2023, the price for the public works facility jumped up by almost 40% from its previous estimate, which was $26.4 million.

Cost escalation pressures for labour, material and transport were described as part of the reason behind the price hike

Bragg told councillors that the builder for the public work facility is Kinetic Construction Ltd– the same builder used for Fire Hall 1 and who is currently working on the Brennan Park upgrades

“It is understanding that cost creep can happen where people say this is the budget, and they go and build right up to that budget where they could have actually built it for 10% [less]

This comes down to then having the right builder, the right project manager internally, and the right systems to make sure that everyone understands that,” he said

“We trust that their system, regardless of what the budget is, they’re going to go out and get a

It is understanding that cost creep can happen where people say this is the budget, and they go and build right up to that budget where they could have actually built it for 10% [less].

KAL BRAGG

market number, not rely on the budget number that we’ve installed in front of them.”

On the potential $1.3 million budget increase, Bragg said it would mean “having a bit of money in our back pocket just to cover anything if it could go wrong.”

CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS

The existing public works yard sits at 13,000 square feet and consists of a “vehicle and equipment maintenance and repair building, an administrative trailer, a lunch room trailer, a large yard for equipment storage, a sand and salt shelter, and a number of sea cans and sheds.”

The new building is planned to be double the size at approximately 27,200 square feet–in addition to the yard and the existing maintenance bays.

Around 70 spaces have been allocated for vehicle parking as well as additional bike parking and charging spaces.

Current works at the site include flood construction levelling. The whole site is being raised by three metres to maximize climate resiliency.

Bragg said the next steps in the project will be to continue the civil works and start the building foundation work early next year

COUNCILLOR CONCERNS

Coun Andrew Hamilton noted that he would need more information from District staff before he would approve a budget increase in the future

“I know that you’re pushing hard to keep this project on track and on budget, but in order for us to support you, I need more information before I can support a budget increase on this item,” Hamilton said “I need to understand, in detail, how our

Age-Friendly Community Let’sTalk About...

Seeking LibraryBoardMembers

TheDistrictofSquamish is creating an age-friendly communityplan!

To help create our plan, we arereachingout to communitymembers of all ages— especially seniorswho arecomfortable sharing their experiences

Completeour surveyto shareyour thoughts!

letstalksquamish.ca

WHAT’SHAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE

Annual Pool Closure

TheMunicipal Librarywas established in 2003 pursuanttothe provisions of the LibraryAct of British Columbia. TheLibraryBoard hasthe responsibilityfor oversightofthe deliveryofpublic libraryservices in the DistrictofSquamish.The Boardconsists of one member of Council and eightmembers to the public appointedbyCouncil.Members of the Boardwill serve without remuneration. Members are expectedtoattend all meetings of the Board, which areheld on the thirdWednesday of each month, and shareinother Board activities and responsibilities

Allresidents and electors of the Districtare eligible forappointment, unless they aremembers of the Municipal Council or employees of the Districtorthe LibraryAssociate.Please indicateonyourapplication anyparticular interests,experienceorqualificationsyou have in relation to public libraryservices Thereare four vacancies to fill.

An information package and applicationforms areavailable at the Libraryand online at: squamishlibrary.ca/library-board

Applications should be received no laterthan 4:30 pm on October 4, 2024.

Pleasedirectto HilaryBloom at hbloom@squamish.ca or by mail: DistrictofSquamish, 37955 Second Avenue,POBox 310, Squamish,BCV8B 0A3

Drop-In with theMayor

Join MayorArmand Hurford foropen communityconversation. Allare welcome!

September 23, 12:30 pm

MunicipalHall,37955 Second Ave (in Council Chambers)

Brennan Park Aquatic Centre is closed forannualmaintenance until Saturday, October 5. This includes the steamroom, hottub andshowers.

Learn to PlayUkulele(55+)

Spin –Baby&Me with Cindy Palmer

This is the class whereyou bring your little one with you! Parents or caregivers can get aworkout while tending to their baby’s needs. Appropriate forchildren under one year,ornot yetmobile. Thursdays,9:30–10:30 am

Drop-ins available,spacepermitting

2Outdoor

Seeking AdvisoryDesign Panel MembersatLarge

Applications arebeing accepted from thoseinterested 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.

Spin –Crowd with Heather Feeney

Drop-ins available, space permitting.

Learntoplaythe ukulele with instructorSharon Slater. for details squamish.ca/rec

NewFall Hours forThe 55 Sunday, Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9–8:30 pm Wednesday 9–9 pm Thursday: 9–8:30 pm Friday, Saturday: 9–4 pm

TheAdvisory DesignPanel 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 pm on September 30, 2024

NoticeofPublic InputOpportunity (public hearing)

ImportantNotice

Please note that this publicinput opportunityisonly forcommentsabout TemporaryUse Permit No.73–FortisBC Temporary Workforce Accommodation, not TemporaryUse Permit No.74–FortisBCTemporaryConstruction Yard.

What’sProposed:

FortisBCTemporary WorkforceAccommodation

TemporaryUse PermitNo. 73

PROPOSEDTEMPORARYUSE

To allow fortemporaryworkforce accommodation on theproperty outlined in blackonthe Location Mapbelow,for aperiod of threeyears.The accommodation will consist of single storey,wooden structurecomplexes which will accommodate576 beds,with the option to add36more.

AFFECTED PORTION OF LANDS

DISTRICTLOT 513,GROUP 1NEW WESTMINISTER

DISTRICTEXCEPT PART IN PLAN LMP18787

LOCATIONMAP:

Ways to Participate

Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed TemporaryUse Permit will have an opportunitytobeheardinperson and to providewritten submissions

IN PERSON

Youmay participate in person during this public input opportunity at Brennan Park Recreation Centre (gymnasium), 1009 Centennial Way, Squamish, B.C.Comments must be contained to 3minutes and be relevant to theTemporaryUse Permit under consideration.

ASpeakers Listwill be established. Youmay register to speak in advanceofthe public hearing by emailing phspeakerslist@squamish.ca orbycalling 604-892-5217. Youcan also register in person on the dayofthe hearing,between 5:15 pm and 6 pm at theBrennan Park Recreation Centre (gymnasium entrance).

Everyonewill beprovided an opportunitytospeak. Those not on theSpeakers List who wish to providecommentsat thehearingwill be provided an opportunitytospeak after everyoneonthe Speakers List has addressed Council

*Please note thatdue to technical capacityconsiderations and in order to ensureafair andundisrupted hearing, electronic and phone-in participation will notbeavailable.

IN WRITING

If youare unabletoattend the public hearing,ordonot wish to speak at the hearing,you can still participate in this public input opportunitybysubmitting your written commentsto hearing@squamish.ca or by delivering them to Municipal Hallto the attention of the CorporateOfficer.

In order to allowCouncil timetoreviewall written submissions prior to the Public Hearingand decision on theproposed TUP,please submit your comments by noon on September 24, 2024.All comments will form partofthe public record.

*Pleasenotethatany comments received afterthe close of the Public Hearing can not be considered by Council

WATCHTHE MEETING

If youwould like to watchthe meeting and hear the submissions,you can do so by watching themeetingat squamish.ca/live-meetings.

What’s Proposed:

FortisBC TemporaryWorkforce Accommodation

TemporaryUse Permit No.73

PROPOSED TEMPORARYUSE

To allowfor temporaryworkforce accommodation on the property outlined in black on the adjacentLocation Map, foraperiod of three years.The accommodation will consist of single storey,woodenstructurecomplexes which will accommodate 576 beds,with the option to add36more.

AFFECTED PORTION OF LANDS

DISTRICTLOT 513, GROUP 1NEW WESTMINISTER

DISTRICTEXCEPT PART IN PLANLMP18787

TAKE NOTICE THAT DistrictofSquamish Councilmay consider adecision regarding the TemporaryUse Permit No.73at theSpecial Business Meeting scheduled forSeptember 25, 2024 at 6pminthe Stawamus ActivityRoom atBrennan Park Recreation Centre,1009 Centennial Way, Squamish, BC.

September 25 at 6 pm at BrennanPark Recreation

What’s Proposed:

FortisBC TemporaryConstruction Yard

TemporaryUse Permit No.74

PROPOSED TEMPORARYUSE

To allowfor atemporaryconstruction yard on the property outlined in black on the adjacentLocation Map, foraperiod of three years. Theconstruction yard will serve as ahub forcoordination and supportofconstruction activities

AFFECTED PORTION OF LANDS

DISTRICTLOT 8029, GROUP 1NEW WESTMINISTER DISTRICTASSHOWN ON PLANBCP24944

TAKE NOTICE THAT DistrictofSquamish Council mayconsideradecision regarding the TemporaryUse Permit No.74atthe Special BusinessMeeting scheduled forSeptember 25, 2024 at 6pminthe Stawamus ActivityRoom at Brennan Park Recreation Centre,1009 Centennial Way, Squamish, BC.

Acopyofthe proposedTemporaryUse Permits and relatedinformation thathas been or maybeconsidered by Council maybeinspectedonline or at Municipal Hall.

• squamish.ca/public-hearings-and-meetings •37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia, from September 12 to 25, 2024 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm,Mondaythrough Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Questions? Contactthe Planning Department: 604-815-5002

LOCATION MAP

LOCATION MAP

Notice of TaxSale

Noticeisherebygiven that pursuant to Sections645 &647 of theLocal Government act, the properties listed belowmay be offered forsale on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 10:00 am,inCouncilChambers, Municipal Hall,37955 Second Ave, Squamish, B.C.,unlessthe delinquenttaxes plus interest arepaid.

002-557-967 40686OLSON RD LOT2 BLOCK CSECTION 11 TOWNSHIP50NEW WESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANVAP12082 BCAGROUP 1EXC HWY

MHR49604 67 -1830 MAMQUAM RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LAND DISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 49604, BAY#67, 08338 TIMBERTOWN MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0067744.000

MHR24572 151 -1830MAMQUAM RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LANDDISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 24572, BAY#151, 08338 TIMBERTOWN MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0067744.000

MHR29376 208 -1830MAMQUAM RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LANDDISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 29376, BAY#208, 08338 TIMBERTOWN MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0067744.000

MHR16575 18 -40157 GOVERNMENT RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LANDDISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 16575, BAY#18, 08338 SPIRAL MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0070348.000

MHR35296 41 -40157 GOVERNMENT RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LANDDISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 35296, BAY#41, 08338 SPIRAL MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0070348.000

MHR18856 73 -40157 GOVERNMENT RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LANDDISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 18856, BAY#73, 08338 SPIRAL MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0070348.000

MHR17963 76 -40157 GOVERNMENT RD GROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LAND DISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 17963, BAY#76, 08338 SPIRAL MANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0070348.000

029-168-64340156 GOVERNMENT RD LOT8 SECTION11TOWNSHIP50NEW WESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANEPS637 PART SW 1/4 BCAGROUP1 TOGETHER WITH AN INTERESTINTHE COMMON PROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THE UNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THESTRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

026-578-743 401 -40437GOVERNMENT RD LOT63SECTION 11 TOWNSHIP50NEW WESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANBCS1695 TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THECOMMON PROPERTY IN PROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWN ON FORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

026-822-041 36 -40137GOVERNMENT RD LOT36SECTION 2 TOWNSHIP 50 NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANBCS2028 BCAGROUP 1&SEC 11, TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THECOMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWN ON FORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

LEASE/LICENCE 238364 NEW WESTMINISTER DISTRICTPLANLMP53420 BCAGROUP 1LEASELICENCENUMBER 238364 LANDBRANCHFILENUMBER 2407414 LICENSE RE ROWPLLMP53420 FOREXCAVATING FOR, CONSTRUCTING, OPERATING,REMOVING,REPLACING, REPAIRING &SAFEGUARDING THEREONA WATERLINE

029-283-141 39737GOVERNMENTRDLOTA SECTION 3 TOWNSHIP 50 NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANEPP34586 BCAGROUP 1

MHR 40954 2- 39884GOVERNMENT RD GROUP1,NEW WESTMINSTER LAND DISTRICT, MANUFACTUREDHOME REG.# 40954, BAY#2,08338 SOUSTERSMANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-400-0068852.001

023-818-697116 -39920GOVERNMENT RD LOT47TOWNSHIP 50 DISTRICTLOT 2NEW WESTMINISTER DISTRICTPLANLMS2402 BCAGROUP 1TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWN ON FORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

027-402-436 111- 39012 DISCOVERY WAYLOT 11 DISTRICTLOT 1305 NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLAN BCS2779 BCAGROUP 1&DL5032, TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWN ON FORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

030-959-896 46 -39769 GOVERNMENT RD LOT51SECTION 3 TOWNSHIP 50 NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANEPS3776 BCAGROUP 1TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST INTHE COMMONPROPERTY IN PROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWN ON FORM V

008-653-011 38490 BUCKLEYAVE LOT1 DISTRICTLOT 296 NEWWESTMINISTER DISTRICTPLANVAP13374 BCAGROUP 1& DL4261

009-452-14138108 CLEVELAND AVELOT 3BLOCK GDISTRICTLOT 486 NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANVAP9823 &BLK H 004-067-631 38070 FIFTH AVELOT ABLOCK 5DISTRICTLOT 486 NEWWESTMINISTER DISTRICTPLANVAP17629 BCAGROUP 1

PID Civic Address Legal Description

025-928-20138723 BUCKLEY AVELOT EBLOCK 24 DISTRICTLOT 759+6814

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANBCP10549 BCAGROUP 1

025-928-210 38717BUCKLEYAVE LOTF BLOCK 24 DISTRICTLOT 759+6814

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANBCP10549 BCAGROUP 1

028-647-572 305 -1212MAINSTSTRATALOT70, PLANEPS264, DISTRICTLOT 486, GROUP1,NEW WESTMINSTER LAND DISTRICT, TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTY IN PROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THESTRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM V

028-647-611303 -1212MAINSTLOT 74 DISTRICT LOT486

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANEPS264 BCAGROUP 1PHASE2,TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

028-647-921 503 -1212 MAIN STLOT 105 DISTRICTLOT 486

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLAN EPS264 BCAGROUP 1PHASE2,TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

029-968-208 371188WILSONCRESSTRATALOT 43, PLAN EPS3019, DISTRICTLOT 4261, GROUP1,NEW WESTMINSTER LAND DISTRICT, TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THECOMMON PROPERTY IN PROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWNONFORMV

031-074-260 1357 MARINASIDEPLSTRATALOT 9PLANEPS4831 DISTRICTLOT 486GROUP 1NEW WESTMINISTERDISTRICTTOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM V

031-074-944 1351PEAKSIDE PL STRATALOT73PLANEPS4831 DISTRICTLOT 486 GROUP1 NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTTOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST INTHE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM V

031-063-608602 -37881 CLEVELAND AVESTRATALOT 103 PLAN EPS6562 DISTRICTLOT 486

GROUP1 NEWWESTMINISTER DISTRICTTOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST INTHE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWNONFORMV

031-283-896 311- 1365PEMBERTONAVE STRATA LOT29PLAN EPS7161 DISTRICTLOT 4261 GROUP1 NEWWESTMINISTER DISTRICTTOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWNONFORMV

030-859-8752906HUCKLEBERRYDRLOT 104 DISTRICTLOT 512

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLAN EPP73434 BCAGROUP 1

007-949-94440451 BRAEMARDRLOT 19 BLOCKM DISTRICTLOT 511

015-270-611 71 -38183 WESTWAYAVE LOT33DISTRICTLOT 833

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANVAP14073 BCAGROUP 1

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANVAS2549 BCAGROUP 1TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THECOMMON PROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

023-114-959 11 -38247 WESTWAYAVE LOT11DISTRICTLOT 515

LEASE/LICENCE 243115

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTPLANLMS2033 BCAGROUP 1&DL833, TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMONPROPERTYINPROPORTION TO THEUNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THESTRATALOT AS SHOWNONFORM 1ORV,ASAPPROPRIATE

DISTRICTLOT 4268

NEWWESTMINISTERDISTRICTBCAGROUP1 LEASELICENCENUMBER 243115 LANDBRANCHFILENUMBER 2408480 LICENSECOVERS -&PTOFPCL 1DL4271, 4272, 486 PL LMP50907 -FOR LOGHANDLING &STORAGE PURPOSES

MHR 21091 103-40157 GovernmentRdGROUP 1, NEWWESTMINSTER LANDDISTRICT, MANUFACTURED HOME REG.# 21091, BAY#103, 08338 SPIRALMANUFACTUREDHOME PARK,MHP ROLL #08-338-300-0070348.000

Please notethatunder Section 648ofthe Local GovernmentAct apersonauthorized by council maybid forthe municipalityup toamaximum amountset by council

Anyperson upon beingdeclaredthe taxsale purchasermustpay thefull amountofthe purchase pricebycash or certified chequeby3 pm the same day. Failure to paywill result in property being offeredfor sale againat10 am on the following day.

Property purchased at the tax sale is subjectto redemption by the registered property owner within one year from the dateofthe annualtax sale.

The DistrictofSquamish makes no representation express or impliedastothe condition or quality of theproperties being offered forsale

Thepurchase of atax sale property is subject to tax underthe Property Transfer TaxAct on thefair market value of the property.

This is the first of four such publications of this noticedated September 12, 2024. The DistrictofSquamish acknowledges that payments fordelinquent taxes mayhavebeen received during theperiodwhich the listings areprepared and theirsubsequent publication in the newspaper

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EDITOR JENNIFERTHUNCHER jthuncher@ squamishchief.com follow @thuncher

REPORTER INDIGO LEMAYCONWAY iLemayConway@ squamishchief.com

REPORTER BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE bchatterjee@ squamishchief.com

SALESMANAGER CATHIE GREENLEES cgreenlees@ squamishchief.com

MULTI- MEDIASALES REPRESENTATIVE KIMBOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief.com

PUBLISHER SARAHSTROTHER sstrother@wplpmedia.com

TheSquamishChief is amemberof theNationalNewsmedia Council, whichisanindependent organization establishedtodealwithacceptable journalistic practicesand ethical behaviour. If youhaveconcerns abouteditorial content, please contactEditorJenniferThuncherat 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

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Wasn’tthatafallfair?

Thecrowds, thesmiles, thepicnics on ablanket,the oldfriends reunitingand newfriends made,the localvendors andorganizations, thefood andmusic,the winning exhibit entries, and, of course,the zucchini races.

TheBrackendaleFallFairhad it all; therewere even farm animalsand family-friendlygames

Nottomention thededicated volunteers and sponsorswho made it allhappen.

Thefair waswellattendedbyevery generation, it seemed,frombabiestoElders.

Giventhatithas to competewiththe GranFondo andthe trafficheadaches that ride brings with it,it makes it even more specialthatthe 26th annual BrackendaleFallFairwas such asuccess.

Withthe growth of Squamish—wetotalledabout 14,000 when thefairstarted andboast about 30,000 now—andthe undoubted divisionsthat existinour community, betweenold andnew residents,higherincomeand lower, LNG supporters andthose opposed, thesegrassroots, community events aremorevaluableand importantthanever.

“Festivals andeventshaveimpacts that go well beyondwhatcan be measured ineconomic terms,”reads the2011report“Impactsof communityeventsand festivalsonrural places.”

Indeed.

Anyone whoattendedthe fair on Saturday at the historicBrackendale FarmersInstitute Park can attest to that.

“[Theseevents] contribute to thequality of life across Canada by strengtheningcommunities, providing unique activities andevents, building awarenessofdiverse cultures andidentities, and acting as asourceofcommunity pride,”the report continues.

We don’tusually talk aboutthe impact of this fairorother grassroots events in such stuffy terms, of course

Instead, we likely speakabout therolesuch events have in increasing civicpride and community solidarity in emotionalterms

Theirimportanceisfiled as happy late summer memories formed by youngand old.

Even if thosewho attended move away,asmany may,theywilllikelyassociate theirtimein Squamish with thesights, sounds,smellsand tastes of thefairand be takenbacktothathot,fun September afternoon.

We wouldadd that thefair, like otherevents such as theSquamishDaysLoggers Sports Festival,alsotiesustowhere we come from and points to what we arebecoming.

Forthat, we should allbegrateful.

Until next year,Brackendale Fall fair.

POLITICS ANDBEDFELLOWS

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

JENNIFER THUNCHER

Politicians,itmatters whoyou getonboard with, literallyand figuratively,duringthiselection season

With theprovincialelectionquickly approaching on Oct. 19 anda federalelectionlooming,it is enough to make avoter’s head spin trying to keep up withall thepoliticking

Theoft-repeatedadage that politics makesstrange bedfellowshas been on displaywiththe recent provincial BC United Partyimplosion

On Aug. 28,the party’sleaderKevin Falcon announcedthe suspension of BC United’s campaign,passing theelectioncampaigning baton to theConservativeParty of BC.

On thenationalstage,afederalelectionis, at most, ayearaway, with the45thelectionset to take place on or before Oct. 20,2025. It couldbemuchsooner givenonSept. 4, NDPLeaderJagmeet Singh announcedthathis partywas ending its supply-and-confidence agreementwithJustin Trudeau’sLiberal government.

It is againstthatbackdropthatSea to Sky constituents were exposedtoMemberofParliament West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—SeatoSky PatrickWeiler’slatestcampaign-stylevideo on

YouTubeand shared on social mediaabout the politicalhot potato,regionaltransit

In thevideo,Weilergives arundown of thehistory of corridorregionaltransit andnotes what the Liberalgovernmentoffered alongthe way.

“In2018, thefederal government offeredtomatch fundingtosustain theroutesthatthe Greyhound Busservicesusedtoserve,but theB.C.government declined theoffer forthe SeatoSky Corridor,” he says

“Overthe last nine years, thegovernmentof Canada hasinvestedover$30 billioninpublic transitprojects, whichis10times more than the previous Conservative governmentinvested,”Weiler continues. “And on topofthat, we just announced another$30 billionfor public transitfundoverthe next 10 yearstoprovide predictable, reliable long-termcapital fundingfor Transitprojectsthat help meet theneedfor ourincreased population.”

Weiler says hisgovernmentis“prepared to invest in this [regionaltransit]project to startupthe system.”

He encourages viewerstocontact theirprovincial government leaderstomakeregionaltransit happen.

Interviewedinthe clearlyLiberal promotional videoare themayorsofSquamishand Pemberton.

This struck me as odd, givenWeilerhas clearly been in campaign mode forseveral months.Now,is this abreakingnewsstory that makesorbreaksan election?Frankly,no.

VIDEO: Continuedon13

THE SQUAMISH CHIEF NEWSPAPER, PRINTED EVERYTHURSDAY BY GLACIER MEDIA INC.

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

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

VIDEO: Continued from 12

But there are questions savvy politicians at every level should be asking themselves in the coming days and months: “Who am I publicly aligning with, and how will it be perceived?”

“Who is potentially trying to use me, and for what?”

Maybe I am hyper-sensitive to this issue because journalism rules are so strict

Reporters must be extremely careful not to be seen as endorsing or supporting any one politician or party.

Some folks in the community already think journalists are biased and/or seeking favour (we aren’t!), so I do everything I can to not add to that perception

Politicians should too.

For the record, the politicians themselves say their appearance in that transit video had nothing to do with supporting Weiler in the forthcoming federal election.

“Mayor [Armand] Hurford’s participation in MP Weiler’s regional transit video

demonstrates the mayor and District’s commitment to regional transit in the Sea to Sky and is not an endorsement of any political candidate or party,” said a District spokesperson

“The mayor is a key part of a regional group comprised of First Nations and neighbouring municipalities in the Sea to Sky that has been advocating to the province for several years for a commitment to help fund and implement a regional transit solution A federal commitment to support regional transit is a promising step to help move this work forward, and the District looks forward to working with all orders of government to make this a reality.”

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman told The Squamish Chief pretty much the same thing about his appearance in the video.

On the provincial front, Jeremy Valeriote, of the BC Green Party, who is running to replace BC United’s retiring Jordan Sturdy, shared the video to the close to 74,000-strong audience of Facebook’s Sea to Sky Road Conditions with the text that read, in part, “ I can’t wait to work with Patrick and the fed/

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ABOUT THE GRANFONDO CRITICISM

Your criticism of the GranFondo

[Editorial: Dear GranFondo Whistler published Sept 5] suggests that it is a problem requiring an all-or-nothing solution

I participated in the GranFondo for the first time last year, and I’m also a former resident who looks forward to visiting friends and family in Brackendale every year The enthusiasm, cheering, and support from the Squamish residents lining the road was amazing, and at odds with your opinion piece. There was one family near Garibaldi Highlands barbecuing bacon and handing it out to the riders!

It’s too bad that GranFondo’s planners seemed to have overlooked Squamish For example, the Squamish rest stop was set up in a nondescript portion of the highway near the Cat Lake entrance. Why not get some marketing value and set it up in the more spectacular section near

LETTERS POLICY

the Chief? Why not include some local businesses in the setup and operation of the rest stops? Most importantly, the planners didn’t have any options for those of us who needed ourselves, our bags or our bikes picked up and dropped off in Squamish before and after the race; we only had options in Vancouver or Whistler, forcing us to depend on friends for rides, or rent or borrow a vehicle. Perhaps if some of these issues (and others) could be addressed by the GranFondo planners, it would be a lot less wearying for the residents of Squamish

Peter Amelunxen

Former Squamish resident

TIME TO HONOUR THOR

September brings the Brackendale Fall Fair to Squamish, and it is an annual event which has entertained and welcomed thousands for years! In 1994, Thor Froslev was instrumental in reviving the fall fair and the Brackendale Farmers Institute back

prov governments to finally make this happen.”

But the share of the video is not intended to be taken as an endorsement of Weiler or the Liberals by voters, Valeriote said

“If elected as MLA, I will need to work closely with our MP to dislodge the inertia on regional transit—talked about for decades and not acted on,” he said

“MP Weiler’s thorough summary of where we are and how we got here draws important attention to this critical issue for Sea to Sky residents that I wanted to highlight. I will work with anyone, regardless of partisan politics, to finally make this essential service a reality,” he said.

“No federal election has been called and I don’t see the NDP announcement as directly leading to one in the near future.”

Fair enough; however, given what folks have seen on the provincial and federal stage of late, from here on in, aware of it or not, voters—and journalists—are watching closely for who lines up with whom.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you think the new long-term care home will meet the needs of the Sea to Sky Corridor?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

How supportive of the RBC GranFondo Whistler event are you? (Top 3)

MOST READ STORY

Squamish question: What’s going on in the ditch along Hwy 99 in front of Tim Hortons?

in 1994. The late Froslev served as president for many years too. 41976 Government Road serves as the grounds for the Brackendale Fall Fair, also known as the Brackendale Farmers Institute Park It is time to rename the park Perhaps a name like Thor Froslev Memorial Park After dedicating 50 years to Brackendale by serving briefly on Squamish council, chairing the committee during the build of Brennan Park Rec. Centre, was honoured by our Chamber of Commerce by being presented with the Freedom of the Municipality in 2018, which is the highest honour a municipality can bestow

Anyone who knew Thor or knew of Thor does not need too much to understand who he was for Brackendale and this town and what he was for this town, and for 50 years of giving to Squamish, it is time to give back to him and his family. Just a thought.

Mike Enders-Edmonton (Squamish Former Resident)

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

Monday to be considered for Thursday’s edition. Full names and neighbourhood will be published with

and edit letters for length and clarity or to address legal concerns Email letters to: editor@squamishchief.com.

TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK

This week, Indigo LemayConway attended the Brackendale Fall Fair Check out her fun video, and many others on our @squamishchief page

AHEAD OF CAUCUS RETREAT, LIBERAL MP STANDS BY COMMENTS ON GOVERNMENT DIRECTION

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Patrick Weiler talks policy change

SCOTT TIBBALLS stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com

Two months on from the bruising loss of a Liberal heartland seat and weeks before another test for the government in the form of another by-election, West VancouverSunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP, Patrick Weiler was guarded in responding to whether he had seen the sort of ‘reflection’ by party leadership he had called for previously “I would just stand by my comments that I made back in June,” he said.

“While there was the cabinet retreat this week, we are going to be having our national caucus retreat a couple of weeks from now in Nanaimo, so those are certainly discussions we’ll be picking up at that point. Certainly, everything I said back in June stands today.”

In June, Weiler had responded to the loss of Toronto-St Paul’s by-election saying it was a riding the party had “no business losing,”and said he expected “serious reflection” on the direction of the government by the Prime Minister

What that reflection looked like he wouldn’t be drawn on two months later, and a few weeks before another by-election, this time in Quebec,

where the Liberal Party is hoping to hold on to the riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, itself another litmus test for the Liberal government.

Having noted the cabinet retreat in Halifax in August and the upcoming caucus retreat in Nanaimo, Pique Newsmagazine queried Weiler on some of the policy changes that came out of the Liberal leadership over the last few days as a result of the cabinet retreat, such as moves to make stricter the rules around the temporary foreign worker program, and the announcement of massive tariffs on the import of Chinesemade electric vehicles.

Weiler said that the situation had changed in Canada since the immediate years after the pandemic, necessitating a tightening of rules around immigration following a few years of massive intake.

“We’re in a very different scenario at this point. The labour shortages are not there the way they were before, and I think it makes sense to make changes to these programs, to adapt to the current reality that we’re seeing today.”

Weiler added that his own riding was a different kettle of fish to major urban centres however, noting the heavy reliance on the service industry in the region

“I know not everybody is in agreement with

this, particularly businesses in Whistler there’s a big reliance on the temporary foreign workers program, (though) moreso on the holiday working visa program. Those are going to continue to be important parts for the workforce and for businesses in Whistler.”

The labour shortages are not there the way they were before, and I think it makes sense to make changes to these programs, to adapt to the current reality that we’re seeing today.

Asked about how the government would juggle the competing interests of immigration policy with the needs of the industry in the local region, Weiler pointed to the need for more granular employment data, saying that while unemployment in the Lower Mainland was at around 6% in the Sea to Sky it could often drop

WEILER: Continued on 17

PATRICK WEILER

FILE PHOTO/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF STAFF

Patrick Weiler

PUTS PEOPLE FIRST FIGHTFOR ABCTHAT

JeremyValerioteandtheBCGreensare yourbestchoiceforaprogressivevotein WestVan–SeatoSky.

Afternarrowlylosingby60votesintheprevious election,JeremyValerioteisreadytofightforyou intheBCLegislature.BritishColumbiansarecalling foranewkindofleadership—voteGreenforreal changeandsolutionsthatwork.

ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE

ReliablehealthcareisarightforallBritishColumbians. TheBCGreenswillstrengthenhealthservicesforeveryone.

STABLEHOUSING

Everyonedeservesaplacetolive.TheBCGreensprioritize housingsolutionstosupportallSeatoSkyresidents.

REGIONAL TRANSIT

Weneedefficient,affordablepublictransittoconnect ourcommunities.Investinginregionaltransithelps costofliving,congestion,safetyandemissions.

CARE FORTHE CLIMATE

Endoilandgassubsidies,protectournatural environment,andinvestinjobsforthefuture

Notice of Public Hearing

DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLANBYLAW NO.2500, 2017,AMENDMENT BYLAW(DPA1 UPDATE)NO. 3078, 2024

TheproposedAmendment Bylawisintendedto:

•Remove Section 34.2(d) as it is procedural wording.

•Remove or revise DPA1 exemptions that do notcurrently alignwith the provincial Riparian Areas Protection Regulation.

• Re-organizeguidelines and update wording forclarity:

• SeparateSection“34.7 –Aquatic Guidelines (Riparian Areas +Wetlands)”into twosections:

•Section 34.7 –Aquatic Guidelines (Freshwater +Riparian).

•Section 34.8 –Aquatic Guidelines (Ditches).

•Remove General Guideline requirements for parcels whereonly ditch Environmentally SensitiveAreas occur

•Update definitions,acronyms,and references tosenior regulatory legislation.

DISTRICTOFSQUAMISH OFFICIAL COMMUNITYPLAN BYLAWNO. 2500, 2017,AMENDMENT BYLAW(LOGGERS EAST UPDATEAND CORRECTIONS) NO.3080, 2024

Theproposed Amendment Bylawisintended to:

•Add institutional uses to the Rural/Low DensityMultifamily land usedesignation to allow forinstitutional uses typically found within residential neighbourhoods,such as schoolsand places of worship.

• Change the language in the EmploymentLands Policy5.4.6 from‘Residential use in MixedUse Developmentshall comprise no morethan 40% ofthe total gross floor area of anydevelopment’ to‘Residential use in MixedUse Development should comprise no morethan 40% of the totalgross floor area of anydevelopment’to allow forflexibility/Council discretion in the ratio of residential-to-employment spaceinthe MixedUse Development designatedareas.

DISTRICTOFSQUAMISH OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAWNO. 2500, 2017, AMENDMENT BYLAW (DEVELOPMENTPERMIT AREA 3UPDATE) NO.3079, 2024

Theproposed AmendmentBylawisintended to:

•Remove developmentpermit requirements for multi-unit developments comprising four or fewerstratified units.

•Streamline DevelopmentPermit Area 3Guidelines

DISTRICTOFSQUAMISH OFFICIAL COMMUNITY

PLAN BYLAWNO. 2500, 2017, AMENDMENT BYLAW (ACCESSIBILITYUPDATE) NO.3086, 2024

Theproposed AmendmentBylawisintended to:

•Amend text to alignthe use of universal, adaptable,and accessible termswith Zoning Bylawdefinitions and uses.

• Strengthen policy recommendations foradaptability.

•Add policytoconsider accessible units as partofaffordable housing deliverable

NOTICE is hereby giventhat PUBLIC HEARINGS for each of the above proposed Bylaws willbeheld in the Council Chambers at theDistrictofSquamish Municipal Hall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia on September 24, 2024 at 6:00 pm so that Council mayhearand receiverepresentations from persons whobelievethattheir interests in the affected properties and/or bylawamendments would be affectedbythe followingproposed amendments tothe District of Squamish Official CommunityPlan.

Acopyofthe proposed bylaws and related information thathas been or maybe considered by Council maybeinspected:

• Online: squamish.ca

• In person: Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia,fromSeptember 12, 2024 to September 24, 2024 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm,Monday through Friday. Enquiries regarding the proposedamendment bylawmay be madetothe PlanningDepartmentat 604-815-5002 or by email to planning@squamish.ca. This is the first of twonotices of bylawreadings. Datedthis 12th dayofSeptember,2024 at Squamish, British Columbia.

HOWTOPARTICIPATE

Persons who believethattheirinterest in property is affectedbythe proposed Official CommunityPlan amendments will have an opportunity to be heard and to presentwritten 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 before 4:00 pm on the date of the Hearing.For those participating via telephone or electronically,the Districtisencouragingthatawritten 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: 277 351 97595. Dial *3 to‘raise your hand’indicating thatyou’d like to speak.You will hear amessage that “your line has been unmuted”when it is your turnto speak.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 platformbyvisiting squamish. ca/participate Instructionfor electronic participationon WebEx can befound at thatsite.

4. In Person Attendance. Youmay participate in person during the Hearing in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia.

If youhaveany questions regarding participation in electronic hearings,please call the Districtat 604-892-5217

Council will not consider submissions received afterthe close of the Public Hearing.

Allsubmissions will form partofthe publicrecord.

WORKS: Continued from 6

budgets are escalating so far out of our own estimates because our budgets that we proposed back eight, nine months ago and two years ago, they included escalation, or what the escalation is expected to be two years from now

“So, to come back a year later and say escalation is the reason doesn’t really sit right with me, because we should be building cost escalation into our budgets.

WEILER: Continued from 14

as low as 2%

“It’s a very different circumstance, so these changes are more going to have a big impact in more urban areas where you’re seeing higher unemployment, particularly with youth and new immigrants.”

The current minister for workforce development, Randy Boissonnault, was also previously the tourism minister - something Weiler said worked in the region’s favour.

“I speak to him frequently about this. In many respects, Whistler and Squamish, and to a certain extend Pemberton are fairly unique in the country, so sometimes you need to look at things a bit differently and one of the aspects that’s important in this is just making sure you have localized labour market data, and we do have that now for the Sea to Sky.

Under the changes, the government will not process Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) foreign worker permits for low-wage

“So I support the motion to receive but I do not plan on supporting an increase in this budget line item unless I have a much clearer understanding of why this budget has increased and how we can prevent budget creep happening in the future.”

Coun John French spoke in favour of the project that he says has been hurting his head since 2018 when the initial projected budget was $16 million

“I agree with Coun Hamilton, more

positions in areas that have unemployment rates higher than 6% while employers will have a cap on how many temporary foreign workers they can hire as a percentage of their workforce.

Another recent announcement on an issue

Weiler has previously made a point of campaigning on is in the electric vehicle space, with the government announcing the introduction of 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.

Weiler has often spoken of the importance of competition in the EV space, and the proliferation of cheaper, easily-accessible options to internal combustion vehicles.

Asked about how the government could make EVs more affordable while imposing high tariffs on EVs from a country that has the largest EV market in the world and therefore produces cheap vehicles, Weiler acknowledged the complexity but said it came down to protecting Canadian interests in developing the same industry.

“On the one hand, you want to make sure people have access to the range of electric

information on this project is better than less information, and I think that applies to any capital project that involves building,” French said.

“I would like for us to be inundated with information so that we really understand the numbers.

“Then, having said all that, our community needs this building and the members of our public’s work team, they deserve a better work environment than what they have right now

vehicles to suit what they’re looking for But, China is vastly overproducing electric vehicles, and there’s a risk of dumping into other areas as a way of crowding out the EV manufacturing industries in different countries, and that’s a huge risk for Canada.”

While cheap Chinese EV brands are not currently selling EVs in Canada, there are many Chinese-made luxury EVs already on Canadian roads. Teslas made in China do make it to Canadian shores—and they will be hit by the same tariffs. Brands such as Polestar are also made in China, along with many of Volvo’s electric models.

Weiler said it still came down to protecting Canadian jobs—and Canada’s relationship with the United States, which also recently introduced high tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles

“The other part that is critically important here is we have an integrated automotive sector with the United States, and the United States brought in a 100% tariff as well, and if Canada didn’t bring in those tariffs it would become a

“So let’s get building on this before the price goes up another 50%.”

According to the report, the public works facility is expected to be completed by early 2026. The issue will come back before elected officials at a future council meeting.

To read more about the public works facility visit the District of Squamish website.

—With a file from Steven Chua/The Squamish Chief

massive trade irritant with the United States, so there wasn’t a lot of degree of flexibility for what we could do here.”

Overall, Weiler stressed that the ongoing cost of EVs remained cheaper than the lifetime cost of an internal combustion vehicle, and that cost was only going to come down over time

But, the need for cheap EVs while applying tariffs would remain a “fine line to walk” in the meantime.

“There will still be potential for Chinese EVs to come into Canada but still subject to that tariff. There will be a role for the government to have incentives to lower the price for EVs in the short term, at least the initial upfront price so they are cost-competitive

“It’s important that we maintain our trade relationship with the United States, and important that we protect Canadian jobs, particularly as this industry is very nascent in Canada, which will be able to supply Canadian needs, but it’s going to take a number of years to really evolve to where we want it to be.”

SQUAMISH AIRPORT FEATURED BY U.K. COMPANY ON MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR

District airport is the first in Canada for Burning Blue Design

JENNIFER

THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief.com

AU.K. company has created a virtual version of the Squamish Municipal Airport- Don Patrick Field.

Burning Blue Design creates high-fidelity airports for Microsoft Flight Simulator and recently released a version of the Squamish airport.

This was the first Canadian airport they created.

The company has around 30 airports in their catalogue; they try to add a new one every month or two, including the recent addition of

Squamish’s airport, according to a spokesperson for Burning Blue Design.

WHY SQUAMISH?

Adam Hawkins, one of the two designers and builders of virtual airports at Burning Blue Design, said a visit to his wife’s sister in Vancouver’s Oakridge community in May was the impetus for the creation of the Squamish airport simulation

“I have been dying to create a Canadian airport for a long time now, and this trip gave me the opportunity,” Hawkins said in an email to The Squamish Chief.

“Squamish was the obvious choice, given its wonderful location midway between Vancouver and Whistler Prior to the trip, [my] wife’s

parents have always spoken about how stunning the scenery is along the Sea to Sky Highway, so I made some time to come and visit the airport, soak in the general atmosphere and take an awful lot of reference pictures.”

While Squamish is the first Canadian airport the company has created, Hawkins said they hope to create more in the future.

While in B.C., he also travelled to visit the seaplane base at Whistler and a few airports in the Okanagan.

The target market is anyone who enjoys backcountry flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator, he said.

“Basically, [it’s for] virtual pilots who love the challenge of landing in remote areas, testing their skills against adverse weather caused by mountain flying. Many real-world pilots use our oftware, and we often use them as testers for our airports to ensure accuracy. They really do

DARTS & DAFFODILS

MANY DAFFODILS OF THANKS to Torri and Roman for the donation of all your wedding flowers to the Hilltop House residents. There were so many we decorated every area of Hilltop, and all the residents got the opportunity to enjoy them Truly spreading the love

~Hilltop House Support Society

STREET LINED WITHDARTS to everyone plastering signs/posters/stickers on surfaces, degrading our Town! It not only looks awful,

hold us to account and ensure we deliver the highest level of realism,” said Hawkins.

Burning Blue Design has a few more airports lined up to create, all of which are in the U.K. They will be releasing North Weald and Fowlmere airports in the coming few months

“Each airport takes a couple of months to create; there are often hundreds of 3D models to create, some of which can take as little as 15 minutes, others whole days to finish and import into the simulator,” said Hawkins.

To learn more about the Squamish version of the flight simulator, or to purchase it, go to the Burning Blue Design website.

Hawkins said the team at Burning Blue Design welcome any feedback from those who purchase the flight simulator, especially from anyone who knows the airport personally.

The company has an active Discord forum for feedback here: discord.gg/E3JKbtDY2v.

but you are littering and defacing public property Shame on you. If locals are disgraced by this we can only imagine how tourists see it!!

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 COURTESY BURNING BLUE DESIGN

The Squamish Airport in the flight simulation

SEVENTH-GENERATION CANOE CARVER MIKE BILLY SR. PRESERVES TRADITION

‘Handed down from father to son’ says Mike Billy Sr

BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE bchatterjee@squamishchief.com

“My dad had tree logs delivered to the front of his house. He took me and my brothers out there, and he said, ‘I’ll show you once and once only, and if you get it, you probably will, but if you don’t, you probably never will.’”

For Mike Billy Sr., a seventh-generation canoe carver from the Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), these words from his father were an introduction to the craft that he now continues as part of a long family tradition.

Along with his son, Mike Billy Jr., Billy Sr continued the practice of canoe carving at the Tatus Festival, a two-day event that was part of the PNE Fair

The PNE Fair, which ran from Aug. 17 to Sept 2 at Hastings Park in Vancouver, includes the Tatus Festival—named after the Nuu Chah Nulth word for “star”—focusing on Indigenous music, arts and culture. The festival offers Indigenous communities a platform to share their heritage with the public

Billy Sr is known for creating a significant fleet of new dugout and cedar strip canoes for local First Nations, including the North Shore Canoe Club While teaching apprentices, guests and visitors about the traditions, tools and techniques involved in canoe carving, Billy Sr. also highlights the importance of this practice in the Skwxwú7mesh way of life.

“Canoe carving is a pretty neat thing because we were colonized in the 1800s, and they started residential schools in 1886,” said Billy Sr. “But canoeing was considered a sport, and they liked to watch the races. The canoes themselves were our mode of transportation. We’re very lucky to have these traditions handed down from father to son.”

LEGACY IN EVERY STROKE

At the festival, Billy Sr and his team are showing how to carve dugout and cedar strip canoes He decides how the canoes are designed, plans the schedule, and chooses the apprentices. All activities respect Skwxwú7mesh cultural practices and include guidance from Elders

“This isn’t just about making a canoe,” Billy Sr said “It’s about understanding our history, respecting our Elders and ensuring that these traditions are passed down to the next generation.”

Billy Jr., who is learning the craft from his father, commented on the importance of continuing these traditions. “It’s symbolic and really shows that our ways of living and our practices are truly passed down from father to son.”

Canoe carving has been a significant part of the Billy family’s history. Billy Sr. recalled his childhood memories of canoes and discussed the precision required in this craft.

“Building a canoe is a really tough thing. Everything has to be symmetrical and perfect, like within an eighth of an inch,” he said The tools used in carving, some of which have been passed down through generations, hold particular significance

“Some of the things my father handed down to me include a drawknife. It’s a curved drawknife,

and I think they used it for carving benches or the grooves in chairs He got it from his father, so I think it’s from the early 1800s, if not the early 1900s,” Billy Sr. said.

He added, “I also have an adze—one from my grandfather and one from my dad. My dad’s adze is more for carving. It’s still heavy and rugged, but my grandfather’s adze is a big, hefty tool, like the kind you’d imagine Vikings used. It knocks out big chunks of wood, like blocks, and that was handed down from my grandfather to me. Those tools are very special to me; I’ll never leave them anywhere, and I’ll always take care of them.”

An adze is like an axe, with an arched blade.

SPIRITUAL CARVING: MORE THAN WOOD

This spiritual connection to the land and sea is deeply rooted in Skwxwú7mesh history.

Billy Sr described the spiritual aspect of canoe carving. “You have to be in agreement with the log before you start chopping on it,” he said “You

can’t just start hitting it with an axe. You have to sit down with it and come to some sort of arrangement.”

When discussing his connection to Squamish, Billy Sr. noted, “My father is a hereditary chief, and his chieftainship bloodline came from Paradise Valley near Cheakamus, and that’s where our family comes from.”

Reflecting on his role in continuing his family’s legacy, Billy Sr. stated, “I think each artist has a different take on sharing their art and their knowledge. My dad was a great artist, and he was very giving. If you asked him a question, he’d tell you and show you. I try to be the same—I try to be giving and share as much as I can. I love canoe building, and I love canoe racing. For me, teaching it is just another part of that passion.”

Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief’s Indigenous and civic affairs reporter This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative

PHOTOS BY BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Mike Billy Sr and Mike Billy Jr at the PNE; Right: The tools of the trade: adzes.

CONSERVATIONISTS AND SQUAMISH VALLEY GOLF COURSE WORK TOGETHER ON WATER SOLUTIONS

Community efforts to solve the problem of drying channels and stranded fish, in the face of a climate change world

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief.com

In the heat of a mid-August afternoon, the Squamish Streamkeepers’ Jack Cooley leads a small group which includes a fellow Streamkeeper volunteer, Canada Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) staff, and The Squamish Chief—to one of the almost bone-dry side channels that run along the Mamquam River near the Squamish Valley Golf Course

Visitors—like the many walkers who take to the trails—have likely noticed the change in the channels, which can go from full to almost dry in a matter of weeks during stretches of hot days

The loss of water strands juvenile coho fry, which can be seen this day in some surface water.

As water levels drop, the Streamkeepers regularly rescue fry and take them to nearby areas where there is more water.

There are also refuge boxes placed by the DFO, that serve, as their name suggests, as a refuge for fish when water levels begin to drop They are deep holes dug in the channel that become a box of deep, cool water for the fish to enter

THE PROBLEM & COLLABORATION

Over the years, there has been a question of whether the golf course’s draw on water is impacting the water table in the side channel network.

In partnership with the Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS), Erica Harvey, studied the channels for her joint master of science in ecological restoration program.

Her research looked at whether the golf course’s draw on water from the aquifer impacted the drying of the channels adjacent to the course.

In basic terms, her research showed that the golf course was impacting the water table of the channels

“Now, that could happen even if the golf course wasn’t irrigating, but I think it’s fair to say the golf course irrigation exacerbates those drought years,” said the president of the SRWS, Francesca Knight

Knight was quick to say that this information is not meant to point fingers of blame at the golf course.

“[The golf club] is a really important part of our community, and they’re very open to working with us to find solutions,” she said In fact, while there are plenty of stories about the division between groups and people over a problem, in this case, it is a story of shared goals and the collaboration of various individuals and organizations working with a common aim.

BUT FIRST, SOME HISTORY

The side channels were constructed in 1983, by the DFO according to a presentation by Harvey

The channels are “highly productive” for chum and coho spawning and rearing, Harvey notes.

Knight and SRWS’s executive director Edith Tobe, have more than 20 years of observing, studying and working in the area of the channels and looking at different options under their belts.

“Climate change was never considered when those channels were constructed, and it needs an innovative, contemporary solution,” Tobe said.

Refuge holes are fine, but ultimately are a band-aid solution that doesn’t address the bigger issue of the drying of the creeks, Tobe and Knight both said.

WHY THESE CHANNELS MATTER

The Squamish River Watershed Society’s Jasmine Muncaster, a biologist in training, has been testing the level and temperature of the water in these channels

With so many channels and streams throughout the corridor, what does it matter if a few dry up completely late each summer, stranding fish?

Muncaster summed it up as not being able to afford to lose them

“In a world with less habitable channels, less water resources, less habitat, these small areas that provide all of those key factors for salmon, ideal salmon habitat, are really important,” she said “They’re also a great place for communities to come together and see the salmon returning, connect with fry, and, you know, there’s bears here, too. So these small habitat refuges are important for the overall watershed.”

THANK THANK YOU! YOU!

THANK YOUtoour localbusinesses fortheirgenerous supportof SquamishPublic Library’ssummerprograms. Your contributions made adifference, andweare deeplygrateful!

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF;SQUAMISH STREAMKEEPERS

A dry channel near the golf course; some stranded fry.

SOLUTIONS:

Continued from 21

WHY NOT REDIRECT THE RIVER?

Given the proximity of the Mamquam River, some might wonder why it can’t be redirected to feed the drying channels

“The reason for that is these channels are fed by groundwater, and the river is fed by the glaciers,” Muncaster said “So, if we added some sort of intake to bring in river water to be a channel, it would change the entire water quality. And coho salmon and other salmon species that are using these channels are using them specifically because it’s groundwater.”

BEAVER LABOUR

Tobe and Knight both noted that there are opportunities on the channel to work with the beavers that naturally use it as a habitat.

According to Harvey’s analysis, the beaver activity improves water conservation, juvenile salmonid survival, density and growth rate It also increased flows during low periods. Further, it increased the groundwater recharge and elevated the water table.

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

The SRWS has some seed funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and BC Hydro’s Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, and the local organization is hoping to get some more and work with the golf course on what may be a feasible solution.

“Get a hydrotechnical engineer to look at the problem … and look into the possibility of a deeper water well, a deeper aquifer well. Right

now, the channels and the golf course irrigation pond are pulling off the shallow aquifer. But if we could go through the bedrock, which, like our drinking water supply, is a deep water well, into the deeper water aquifer, if we could do something similar,” Knight said, noting this could be a solution for the golf club, too.

Knight and Tobe say they presented their information to the Squamish Valley Golf Course’s general manager Scott Wengi, who was open and receptive to their findings and work

Wengi told The Squamish Chief, from his office beside a packed parking lot, with golfers coming and going on a recent sunny Thursday afternoon, that he did understand from Harvey’s data that “there’s some correlation between the water levels in our reservoir and those in the spawning channels.”

The renovation of the course’s back nine holes prior to this golf season has already improved the course’s irrigation

“Our irrigation practices are improved because every fairway and green that we redeveloped had to have new irrigation put in it So, all those pipes, all those sprinkler heads, they all came up, and new ones were replaced And by doing that, we were also able to better set up our irrigation, so that we’re not wasting water on areas that we really don’t need to be watering,” he said.

Wengi is also open to looking at what more can be done.

Prior to this latest upgrade, the last time the course’s irrigation system had been updated

Our irrigation practices are improved because every fairway and green that we redeveloped had to have new irrigation put in it.

SCOTT WENGI

was in 2012, Wengi said, adding that the course’s irrigation is all computer-driven.

“So, we have it set up with the software [for how] long each night, each area is getting water, how many minutes and what directions we’re looking at doing.”

With climate change meaning periods of drought, it is an issue that is important for the channels and fish, but also for the golf club, too, he noted.

Wengi, who is from Australia originally, said that while in North America, players are accustomed to bright green, lush golf courses all season long, that isn’t the case in other parts of the world.

“You go to other countries where water is maybe less likely to fall all year round, Australia, South Africa, places like that, and

they’ve come to work with that and produce courses that are still extremely enjoyable to play, but fairways may be a little drier, not as green for the player. From a visual perspective, maybe it’s not quite as nice, but from a playing perspective, a drier, firmer fairway, where the ball bounces and rolls further, so you’re getting longer shots, and things like that So, it’s a positive.”

He said he thinks, over time, North American courses will gradually have to work a little bit towards that model.

“We just want to be more responsible with water usage.”

He said the Squamish course has already allowed some fairways to become a little firmer, and a little drier and focused the main watering on tees and greens.

Ultimately, Wengi said, working together is the way forward for all involved.

“It’s stuff that we’ve definitely got to work together on,” he said, “We have a permit to use a certain amount of water between April and September We’re allowed to do it, but we want to also be conscientious in the amount of water that we are using and needing because it’s no good if we’re affecting other parts of the property or need by neighbours,” he said

The Squamish Chief reached out to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for comment to include in this story. A spokesperson said they were unable to meet our deadline We will update this story online when we hear back from them

TOUR DE SQUAMISH: SORCA ANNUAL RELAY RETURNS IN SEPTEMBER

For the first time, the three-leg mountain biking event will include a trail running portion

INDIGO

LEMAY-CONWAY

iLemayConway@squamishchief.com

Mountain bikers and runners unite!

The SORCA Tour de Squamish is back this month and is bringing bike lovers and trail runners together for their annual relay event.

The format for the Sept 14 event will be a three-person relay, this year including a trail run, down-country XC and two-stage enduro legs

“Trail runners use the trails just as mountain bikers do and they contribute to the trails so we kind of have gone outside of our typical just mountain biking platform,”

SORCA executive director Ian Lowe said.

“The run is a net gain so it’s like a climb, and then the cross-country bike leg is a net descent,” he said.

According to Lowe, each section of the relay will roughly take an hour with around 10 minutes of timed sections in the enduro leg.

While SORCA members are encouraged to team up in groups of three, Lowe said individuals or duos are welcome to take part in the event.

“As much as we are encouraging people to get together as a team, they can enter as an individual and do the whole thing, or they can even enter as an individual and do one of the three legs,” he said

“They will still get a time at the end, although there won’t be a category for individuals, they can still participate in the event and then come to the after party.” There will be prizes for the top teams in

each category as well as for teams that best embrace the Tour de Squamish vibe.

The name Tour de Squamish commemorates SORCA’s long-time trail director Chris McCrum, who passed away in 2019

McCrum was also responsible for a difficult group ride, which was originally named the Tour de Squamish, but was shortened and reborn as Beyond the Valleycliffe of the Dolls.

In previous years, participants have been known to dress up in costumes, which Lowe endorses, but with caution

“The first year we did [the event], we didn’t explicitly say that you should dress up in costume, but a lot of teams went full on with the costumes,” he said.

“Just a word of warning is that we love costumes. However, they should still be safe to bike in.

“You have to remember that there is still an element of risk when you’re biking and if you have a three-foot tail coming off of your behind, it’s maybe not the safest thing.”

Registration for the event closes at midnight on Sept 12 and costs $60 per team ($20 per person). The fee includes race entry, dinner, draw prizing and one drink ticket per person at the after party hosted by Freebird Table and Bar and Red Truck Beer Company. To register or for more information on the Tour de Squamish, visit the SORCA website.

Cheer and Harmony abonded pair of sisters.

Harmonyisthe outgoing sister whohelps Cheer,the shyer sister,to feel more confident. Thetwo girls will needtobethe only cats in the home andwillnot do well with dogs.

Harmonyhas apermanent grinonher face andCheer has themost beautiful green eyes. Both girls like to play with wand toys andare quite food motivated.Nosmall children wouldbebest.

PHOTO BY JOSH MCGAREL Team Leopard in the 2022 Tour de Squamish

PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

ROLLING THROUGH SQUAMISH: The RBC GranFondo Whistler rode through town on Saturday.

HIRING

Manager of Facilities–PermanentFull-Time

Bring your expertise and sound leadership skills to play akey role in overseeing the operations,maintenance and repair of all of the District’sfacilities.Ifyou have outstanding organizational skills,attention to detail, long-termvision, skills,and apositive team-oriented leadership style,wewould love to hear from you!

ACROSS

1. Blond shade

4. Go by

8. Wind instrument

12.Fawn’sma

13. Pain

14. Disgusting

15.Owed

16.Intersection sign

17.Figure

18. Divided

20.Shakes, as atail

22.Tourist’sneed

24.Metal container

27.Right-minded

30.Not written

31. Tint

32.Magician’s word

34.Renter

36.Atmosphere

37.Initial wager

39.Picks

40.Smidgen

41. Playground items

43.Slip

44. Hadin mind

48.Keepexpectations

51.Bestow

53.Seek theaffectionof

54. Aristocrat

55.Will beneficiary

56.Carpenter insect

57.Instructor, forshort

58. Server

59.Approval word

DOWN

1. Says further 2. Minestrone, e.g. 3. Foot part

4. Spaghetti or ziti

5. Feat

6. Bath alternative

7. Forced apart

8. Switch positions

9. Heckler’s call

10._ Father (Lord’sPrayer)

11. Large tree

19.Freezes

21. Storm

23. Nighttime illumination

24. Dude

25.ClaraorBee

26.Butterflysnares

27.Pettydispute

28. Elaboratesolo

29.Geek

33. Chore

35.Sniffer

38. Moreorderly

42.Grinding material

43.Character

45.Gone

46.Nil

47.Little children

48.Inthe know

49.Rowboat item

50.NHL athlete, e.g.

52.Byrouteof

HOROSCOPE WEEK OF SEPT 12, 2024 -SEPT 18, 2024

ARIES March 21-April 19

Take the initiativeto rebalance yourfriendships If you’resurroundedby energy-sucking friends, setboundaries to preserve yourvitalityand be respected.

TAURUS April 20-May20

If you have young children, it’s essentialtobe disciplinedand setclear rules.Beingtactful with people around you canhelp avoid conflicts and hurt feelings

GEMINI May21-June 20

Youmay be drawnto travel opportunities this week.Atwork, serving people in alanguagein whichyou’renot entirely fluentwillbe arewarding challenge, both personally and financially.

CANCER June 21-July 22

If you’vebeenworking hard to eathealthyand exercise, you’ll finallystart seeingpositiveresults Perseverance is the keyto regainingyourwell-being and self-confidence.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Afriend will suggestan enrichingexperience Respondingtoaparticular need for adrenalin will provide arefreshingbreak from yourroutine and boost yourself-esteem

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Expressing your opinions confidentlyand authoritativelycan help you rise through the ranksat work.Ifyou showcaseyour leadership skills,you may even find yourselfinthe boss’s chair

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

You’ll indulge in luxury shoppingthis week. Renewingyourwardrobe maybejustified in takingon new responsibilities at work Treatingyourself canbe highlygratifyingand boost yourconfidence.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Take the time to resolve problems at home or with familymembers If necessary,consider refreshingyourdecor to preparefor fall.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Make sure yourcar,phone and computerare in good workingorder.Chargethe batteries so yourdevices remain functional no matter whereyou are. Preventative measures cangoalongway to avoidingpotential problems

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Setastrictbudgetto enjoy yourhobbieswhile maintainingfinancial stability. Sound financial managementwill help calm yournerves, and financial matters will become very important at work

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18

Newand demanding responsibilities maycome yourway at work and home this week.Patience and perseverance arenecessary to overcome fatigueand stress, butthe rewardswillbe worthit.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

If you’reexperiencing restlessnightsdue to racing thoughts,try to find some escape.Consider signingup for agym membership to help restorebalance.

HOWTOPLAY:

LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:

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

Holy Communion and MorningWorship

Sundays at 10:00 AM

Rev Cameron Gutjahr 1930 Diamond Road 604-898-5100

www.squamishanglicanchurch.ca info@squamishanglicanchurch.ca

Exalting Jesus,Equipping His Followers,Engaging theWorld

WorshipService Sundays 10am on ourwebsite and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org

SUDOKU