COUNCIL SUPPORTS PROPOSAL TO CHANGE WALMART INTO A SUPERCENTRE
The rezoning application would see the Walmart transformed into a Supercentre and give the store permission to sell fresh produce
It looks like locals will soon be able to buy fresh veggies and meat, among other things, at Walmart.
The rezoning application to turn the Squamish Walmart into a Supercentre has been given its first three readings by council.
Five out of six council members voted to support the rezoning, which if adopted, will see the store granted permission to sell fresh produce.
At the Nov. 19 regular council meeting, District planner Philip Gibbins gave some background information on the site, which has been prohibited from selling things such as fresh fruit, vegetables and meat since opening in 2006
“The original rezoning allowed for large format retail in the business park However, it placed restrictions on the sale of perishable and non-perishable food items to limit food retail within the business park to reduce competition for grocery stores downtown,” Gibbins said
“This allowed Walmart to operate their standard
PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS
format at the time, and as part of the rezoning, there was an agreement with Walmart not to apply for rezoning for at least five years.”
The rezoning amendment would see the removal of site-specific restrictions on the sale of perishable and non-perishable food items.
“Removing these restrictions would allow a full range of food options at the Walmart store, increasing grocery options for Squamish residents,” Gibbins said
“Over the past 15 years, the District has experienced significant population growth, which is projected to continue driving demand and market support for additional food retail.”
As part of the rezoning application, Walmart has also applied for a permit to update the look of the store. The proposed changes include painting the facade, updating signage, adding covered bicycle parking, two new murals facing Discovery Way, and staff end-of-trip facilities
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Armand Hurford threw his support behind the rezoning to help the affordability crisis felt across Squamish and B.C. as a whole
“I’m supportive of this change I think it’s important that our land use decisions evolve over time as the context changes,” Hurford said. “At the time, in 2004, 2005 our population was around 14,000 people I remember this discussion in the community around protecting our existing grocers, and, really, having Walmart come to the community at all at that time was a very challenging conversation for the community.
“It actually had quite a positive impact on the community ... and we saw a positive ripple effect throughout the community, of people staying in the community to do their business.”
Hurford said his decision to support the rezoning comes after he noticed the prices across different grocery stores in B.C. compared with Squamish
“In my travels this year, in particular as far north as Whitehorse, I’ve noticed that our grocery prices here are more than they are in some of these places that are very hard to get to and thus should be reflected in the pricing of the groceries.
“So if we weren’t experiencing the disproportionately high costs here in Squamish, I think this conversation could be different. But there’s a limit to everything, and I think that it’s totally responsible to take this step now in the context of 2024, and so I’m happy to support this.”
Coun. Lauren Greenlaw echoed Hurford’s comments about the affordability crisis and the impact the rezoning could have on the community.
“I’ll be supporting the motion on the floor, though I do have concerns about the potential negative impacts on existing grocers, in particular Farmers on Duty, which is a family run small scale grocer that is within a couple 100 metres of Walmart,” she said.
“Personally, I try not to support big
companies and shop local as much as possible But as Mayor Hurford mentioned, that is sometimes a luxury, and affordability is a major conversation in this community So I hope that Walmart expanding to a superstore will alleviate some financial burdens for members in our community.”
Coun John French kept his support of the proposal short and sweet.
“The modernization of this store is, in my opinion, overdue I support these changes based on feedback that I’ve had from residents who welcome the increased competition in the grocery sector,” he said
“As an added bonus, the murals and the additional formal bike infrastructure, I think, are going to be positive new additions to the building.”
Councillors Eric Andersen and Andrew Hamilton were both also supportive of the rezoning and alongside Coun. Greenlaw, they each encouraged Walmart to work with Squamish Arts on the two murals included in the proposal
I support these changes based on feedback that I’ve had from residents who welcome the increased competition in the grocery sector.
COUN. JOHN FRENCH
The only council member not to support the project was Coun. Chris Pettingill, who voted against the rezoning, but not because of anything to do with Walmart itself.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to support this, and the primary reason is actually not the proponent’s fault. As alluded to, the Fortis-Woodfibre pipeline that is going along Finch and Industrial is an incredibly, unusually large pipeline that is close to human habitation,” he said
“I have been asking Fortis [for risk and consequence analysis information], they did a presentation, and I told them, clearly, it was insufficient Without that information, I am not comfortable that this is safe, and so my only tool as a local official is to think about land use and proximity to that pipeline
“So in the absence, when most of the information I have says that this probably isn’t a safe thing, I have to go with the best information I have, and I would encourage us to find a way to get some better information … but at this point, unfortunately, that is a deal breaker for me.”
Coun. Jenna Stoner was absent.
The Walmart rezoning application will return to council at a later date for adoption.
For more information on the proposal to change Walmart into a Supercentre, visit the District of Squamish website.
FILE PHOTO BY INDIGO
LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Walmart will soon have more in store.
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Email your news tip or story idea to: jthuncher@squamishchief.com iLemayConway@squamishchief.com bchatterjee@squamishchief.com anoel@squamishchief.com
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS RAISED OVER FORTISBC PIPELINE
Squamish Nation is monitoring the situation and is in discussion with Fortis to confirm how they will maintain compliance before tunnelling resumes
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Squamish’s Luke Gatien says last Sunday, he explored the forest around the FortisBC site near the Northyards, where the Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project is under construction; what he observed concerned him.
He says there were “clear signs of environmental damage,” near where the tunnel drilling site is.
Nine kilometres of new natural gas pipeline will include a tunnel running under the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary.
The overall project involves a pipeline from north of Coquitlam to the currently under construction Woodfibre LNG export facility site on the shore of Howe Sound.
Gatien, who says he was checking out the area merely as a concerned citizen, said he saw evidence of “significant harm” to the fish habitat, including high water turbidity in all channels close to the drilling site
He was concerned by a lack of environmental monitors on-site on the Sunday he was there.
He also saw no visible water quality instruments in the affected water.
He also notes there was a dead wood duck in the turbid water, though he acknowledges this may not be related to the water quality.
“But in my 10 years of living in Squamish and walking in the estuary, this is the first time I encountered a dead animal that had no signs of predation,” he said.
He forwarded his concerns to the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), a neutral regulatory agency within the provincial government, and to the Sḵwxwú7mesh
Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), which is also an independent regulator on the project.
He shared the email he sent with The Squamish Chief.
CONTRACTOR INVESTIGATING
Darrin Marshall, project director of the Eagle Mountain pipeline, said that construction continues on the project overall, but work on the tunnel site has been stopped temporarily.
“As an update on the tunnel component of the project, our contractor is investigating site conditions across from the BC Rail site near Government Road As a result, tunnelling is currently paused as our contractor stabilizes the ground ahead of the tunnel boring machine to
enable crews to carry out an inspection We have been working closely with our regulators to confirm how we can progress the work in compliance with our regulatory approvals,”
Marshall said
“We are currently approximately 200 metres away from the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary and Wildlife Management Area—approximately the length of two football fields,” he added.
“The use of an underground tunnel for this portion of the pipeline work was borne out of local Indigenous community input to protect the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary. A condition of approval by both Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the BC Environmental Assessment Office is that there will be no surface impacts to the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary. We are currently working with Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw to ensure our conditions continue to be met before tunnelling resumes.”
The company posted the same information on its project website.
‘HOLD FORTISBC ACCOUNTABLE’
Local environmental group, My Sea to Sky, has been raising concerns about the tunnel portion of the project since the summer, writing letters to the EAO, one of which was forwarded to The Squamish Chief.
“FortisBC is manipulating the truth in their statement dated Nov. 19. While the official boundary of the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area is 200 metres away, FortisBC neglects to mention that nearby connecting waterways are only 25 feet from the disturbed riparian area, and these waterways already appear to be impacted by FortisBC’s attempts to stabilize the ground around the tunnel,” said executive director Tracey Saxby, in an email.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen We hope
that the BC EAO, DFO, and Squamish Nation will step up as regulators to hold FortisBC accountable and stop the tunnel until this issue is resolved The Squamish estuary is too precious to be put at risk.”
‘NATION STAFF IDENTIFIED CONCERNS’
The Nation confirmed its members who monitor the project had concerns at the site.
“In recent weeks, Squamish Nation staff identified concerns through our routine on-site due diligence and immediately raised these concerns to Fortis through our regulatory role on the project,” said Syexwaliya, Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw spokesperson and council Member, in an email to The Squamish Chief.
“Fortis has stopped active tunnelling work on the project. Squamish Nation is monitoring the situation and is in discussion with Fortis to confirm how they will maintain compliance before tunnelling resumes.“
‘ACTIVELY MONITORING’
A spokesperson for the EAO told The Squamish Chief on Nov. 21 that compliance and enforcement officers and Squamish Nation environmental monitors are actively monitoring the project through ongoing on-site inspections and review of required documentation and reporting.
“The EAO is aware of the allegations and is following up, including with co-regulators Squamish Nation and the BC Energy Regulator,” the spokesperson said
“Records of all inspections are posted to the EAO Project Information Centre (EPIC) once finalized, along with documentation of any enforcement action that may be taken.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY LUKE GATIEN Dead wood duck spotted by Luke Gatien
FORMER LNG CANADA EXECUTIVE TAKES HELM AT WOODFIBRE LNG
Luke
Schauerte
is the new CEO of the
Squamish LNG export facility
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Squamish’s Woodfibre LNG has a new chief executive officer.
The company, a member of the Pacific Energy Corporation (Canada) group of companies, announced late last week that Luke Schauerte is at the helm as of Nov. 4.
Previously, Schauerte was with another LNG export facility that is under construction, LNG Canada—set to be the nation’s first large-scale gas liquefaction and export facility—where he served as vice president of asset management
Construction of LNG Canada, based in Kitimat, is more than 95% complete, according to a recent update from the company. LNG Canada is a joint venture company of Shell, PETRONAS, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation and KOGAS.
“As the Woodfibre LNG project continues to advance, we are excited to have Luke join our team,” said Ratnesh Bedi, president of Pacific Energy, in a news release. “His proven track record for unlocking the full potential of large-scale assets is instrumental in advancing Canada’s leadership in delivering sustainably produced energy to the world.”
DIFFERENT BUT SIMILAR
Woodfibre LNG will be a smaller project than Schauerte has been accustomed to in Kitimat—there were 8,000 workers on-site at its peak of construction, whereas Woodfibre LNG will have 800 on-site at its peak construction—but the two projects have many similarities.
For example, both are in the construction phase and have 40-year export licences. LNG Canada’s licence allows it to export up to 14 million tonnes of LNG per year for Asian
markets, whereas Woodfibre LNG can export 2.1 million tonnes of LNG each year for overseas markets. Both have partnerships with local First Nations. LNG Canada is being built on the Haisla Nation’s traditional territory, while Woodfibre is on the Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation’s) territory
(The Haisla Nation is the owner of Cedar LNG, a floating LNG facility on its territory in Kitimat.)
Both projects also helped supply their community’s local hospital with a CT scanner.
A major difference however, is the main reception the projects have received, LNG Canada did not see the same vocal level of opposition that has been seen in Squamish
The Sea to Sky recently elected a Green MLA, Jeremy Valeriote, who made his opposition to Woodfibre LNG one of his key campaign points, while the Skeena riding, which includes Kitimat, elected BC Conservative Claire Rattée, whose party promised to bolster LNG projects
The Squamish council has also had a sometimes strained, testy relationship with the company, opposing planned accommodations for construction workers for both the project and the associated pipeline. In Kitimat, on the other hand, the mayor, at least, has had positive things to say about the LNG Canada project.
Squamish is the home of a vocal activist
environmental group formed in 2014 to oppose the project, My Sea to Sky.
BACKGROUND
Before LNG Canada, Schauerte held leadership roles with Shell, for about 16 years, according to his LinkedIn page, in both Canada and internationally.
For Shell, he played a leading role in the Scotford Manufacturing Complex, a hydrocarbon processing site that consists of a bitumen upgrader, oil refinery, chemicals plant and Carbon Capture and Storage facility in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.
His LinkedIn profile also shows that he was previously a combat systems engineer officer with the Canadian Armed Forces
“Within the Royal Canadian Navy, initially served on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Regina,” reads his profile.
He is an engineer registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
“I’m delighted to join Woodfibre LNG, a company that is breaking new ground in sustainable LNG development,” said Schauerte in the release. “Woodfibre LNG is demonstrating exceptional industry leadership through its commitment to reducing
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VIA WOODFIBRE LNG Luke Schauerte
HERE’S THE LIVING WAGE FOR SQUAMISH THIS YEAR
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Living Wage BC calculated how much a family of four needs to earn in 25 different communities
ALYSSA NOEL
anoel@squamishchief.com
Squamish’s living wage for 2024 is $26.76
That’s according to new calculations from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC Office and Living Wage BC
The living wage is meant to be what a two-parent family working full-time and renting a three-bedroom apartment needs to support a family of four—excluding costs like credit card bills, loans or savings for children’s education.
Squamish is sixth on the list of 25 communities for highest living wage, well behind Whistler, which tops the list at $28.09.
“The reason is housing costs,” said Anastasia French, Living Wage BC provincial manager.
It’s hard to come up with an accurate average cost of rent, but looking at census data and information from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the report used a shelter
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cost of $3,000, which is meant to include utilities, rent and tenant’s insurance, she said
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
“I see some potential hope on the horizon for next year,” French said
They’ve observed listing prices going down slightly as well as more units being constructed.
(The report lists the increase in living wage in Squamish from 2023 as 6.49%—the fourth highest increase on the list But that’s due to changing the source for the cost of rent.)
In the meantime, though, the goal is to provide a wage employers can reference in various communities when setting a wage.
“It’s a high living wage, but the vast majority of living wage employers in B.C. are small businesses,” French added. “The reason for that is business owners know their staff. They want to make sure their staff isn’t struggling to pay for rent or food.”
There are more than 450 certified living wage
greenhouse gas emissions to its innovative efforts in promoting cultural and gender safety I’m excited to help lead a safe, sustainable and socially conscious operation that is positioned to generate long-term benefits, including economic reconciliation across a diverse range of stakeholders.”
Construction of Woodfibre LNG began in September of 2023 The facility is expected to be completed in 2027
employers across the province But still, in Metro Vancouver (statistics aren’t available for Squamish), 37 % of of paid employees earn less than the living wage
“Not surprisingly, we know systemic issues [exist] in society, women and racialized workers are more likely to earn less than a living wage,” French said
Going forward, the goal is for the report to include more categories like the living wage needed for different family types.
A single parent, for example, would need to earn about $29 an hour in Squamish and a single person without kids $26.
“We’re hoping to do more work on that next year,” French said.
2024 Living wage rates across B.C.:
• Clayoquot Sound $27.42
• Columbia Valley $22.90
• Comox Valley $24.36
• Cowichan Valley $25.71
Beyond this recent announcement, there have been no other executive leadership changes at Woodfibre LNG of late, according to Sean Beardow, director of communications planning and media relations with the company.
• Daajing Giids $26.89
• Dawson Creek $21.55
• Fraser Valley $23.23
• Golden $26.96
• Grand Forks $20.81
• Kamloops $23.69
• Kelowna $25.77
• Metro Vancouver $27.05
• Nanaimo $23.79
• Nelson $21.82
• Penticton $24.93
• Port Hardy $24.88
• Powell River $26.49
• Prince George $22.93
• Revelstoke $25.50
• Salt Spring Island $26.25
• Squamish $26.76
• Sunshine Coast $26.42
• Trail $22.85
• Greater Victoria $26.78
• Whistler $28.09
The Squamish Chief asked for an interview with Schauerte, but Beardow said the newly minted CEO was “fully committed to meetings and travel at this time.” We expect to be able to sit down for a more in-depth conversation with Schauerte in the near future
‘JUST NOT TRUE AND THAT’S NOT HELPFUL’: RCMP COMBATS MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA
RCMP Insp. Robert Dykstra addresses the alarming spread of unfounded kidnapping rumours in town, highlighting the importance of accurate information amid online fear
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
It is not very often the head of the Sea to Sky Mounties, Officer-In-Charge, Insp Robert Dykstra, does a media blitz, but on Nov. 20, he was doing the rounds to try and combat increasing fear fuelled by social media posts. His officers have been investigating claims of South Asian males luring, stalking, or even attempting to kidnap females in town
These claims, though believed by the individuals reporting them, have been investigated and ruled to be unfounded.
The RCMP have told people this and put out news releases to that effect, and yet the rumours and fear continue to spread.
The situation is leading to vigilantism, which is deeply concerning, he says.
The Squamish Chief interviewed Dykstra about this issue.
What follows is a version of that conversation edited for length and clarity.
Q: What specifically are you concerned about?
A: What’s concerning me right now is the false narratives and information that’s going
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through the social media circles about girls being kidnapped or lured into being kidnapped by men of South Asian descent. This is being broadcast on social media. Then pictures of a particular male have been
broadcast on social media, and then pictures of particular vehicles, and it continues to build and build and build such that it’s kind of creating this furor of people not feeling safe The problem is that the information is false. I don’t think it’s false in the sense that people are making it up because they’re trying to create something. It’s not a malicious thing. I think they believe it, but it’s untrue
Q: So the claims have been investigated?
A: We’ve fully investigated all the complaints that have been received and they’ve been deemed to be unfounded. Unfounded is different from unsubstantiated: unsubstantiated is where there’s just not enough evidence to prove that an offence took place. Unfounded is it didn’t happen, and that’s what I’m trying to get out right now. It is unfounded.
Q: Does it seem like racial profiling at this point? Is that what you are seeing?
A: I don’t think people are racially profiling, per se I think the information that was originally presented indicated that there was a person of South Asian descent, and now that has
become people being afraid of people of that descent. It is causing tensions, for sure As an example, one of my members was not on duty and was walking in the community; that member is a person of colour, and they could see that people were treating them differently because of that, and that’s problematic because that’s the kind of thing that false information leads to It leads to fear It leads to people behaving in ways which are not actually appropriate to what’s happening in the community.
The man who was posted online, this person has been interviewed, and it’s been proven that this person has nothing to do with anything. The vehicle that has an ace of spades is not related to that male or any other male of colour.
If people think the RCMP is not doing their job, fine, they can make a complaint. They can come to the detachment They can do all these different things If someone feels like we’re not doing our job, I encourage them to do that because, you know, we’re not perfect, and we always have things that we can do
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Insp Robert Dykstra.
RCMP: Continued on 7
better and learn from. But in this particular instance, our members have done everything, and they follow up on all the complaints, and they’re unfounded.
Q: Is there another example of what this social media buzz has led to?
A: There was a picture on a social media post, and it’s a picture of our members arresting a male, who the post said was thought to be related to the luring
The person was arrested for a property crime and is not South Asian.
It all leads to this perpetuation of the belief that there’s something serious going on in the community that’s a danger to people, and it’s just not true And then, and my concern is, this is going to lead to people in the community being affected negatively when they shouldn’t be—because they haven’t done anything wrong—and people are treating them differently, which is not something that I think the Squamish community is really about. Squamish is a very welcoming and open community—very friendly. Like in any town, there are always elements of crime, and that’s what the police are for. But as a whole, the community is quite safe. So when people start to feel unsafe because they will be targeted through a false narrative, that is a problem.
Q: Is it becoming a sort of trial by social media, then? Instead of a system of facing one’s accuser, being investigated, maybe going to court, etc.?
A: I don’t think I would say this is a trial by social media. I honestly do believe that the people who are communicating on social media believe the information. I don’t think that there’s anybody maliciously spreading information and trying to say this person did something wrong, knowing that it’s not true. It’s just they have a false basis on which to have the belief about what has actually been going on.
Some information on social media is quite good, and it’s a great communication tool. But the problem is that it’s not sourced in the same way that your official sources of information on these kinds of things are. Police conduct investigations We document our files. We have electronic file systems. We collect video surveillance, for example. We have all this information that we can then say to ourselves through investigation, this is true or not true, and then if it was a real criminal activity, it goes to court, and so on In this case here, it’s just people who have heard a story, and they believe it
Q: I worry about giving the impression that this is about not believing women or people. We want to believe women when they say what happened to them. Right? But what I am hearing you say is that this situation is not that. Can you address this?
A: Absolutely. We have a policy that when someone comes and tells you something or when someone makes a complaint to the police, the first thing is to believe what they’re
telling you and to act on that. So, if someone makes a complaint that there was a kidnapping that took place or someone was attempted to be kidnapped, we believe in the first instance, and then we investigate it. In a lot of cases, I find that it’s not that something didn’t happen, but then maybe there was a misunderstanding or misrepresentation. So, for example, if someone was at work and they’re leaving their office and they see some males, and then a male kind of looks at them in a particular way, and they feel unsafe because of something that’s happened in their past, or something that’s happened recently in the community, that doesn’t make that feeling or that experience any less valid. It’s 100% valid. So the recommendation is to contact the police, let the officers do an investigation, and then we can tell you that, yes, this is something that is of concern, and we’ve addressed it, and we’re dealing with it, or this is what we found out.
This situation with social media now, has been going around since June, and what we’ve done is we’ve fully investigated the complaints that have come to us, and we’ve notified the complainants that this is not accurate. This isn’t true. This isn’t happening, but it’s continued to evolve on social media.
Q: So, people should call the police if they feel unsafe or have a concern, is what you are saying, basically?
A: Yes. You know, some people don’t want to call the police for different reasons. Some don’t call the police because they’re afraid of the court stuff. I understand that completely; the justice system is complex, and it can be intimidating to many, but it’s there for a reason, and it is very effective.
Some don’t want to call the police because they don’t trust the police As an officer in charge, I require that my members and my employees act in a compassionate, professional way at all times, and the style of policing that I’d like to deliver is one that’s basically compassionate policing. We are there to provide a service to the people of our community, which is to take care of them, to make them feel safe and to investigate crime. And to do that for them in a way that’s meaningful and that they feel safe. If there’s an incident that happens in front of you, or you see something that looks criminal or suspicious, you can call us and let us investigate it That is what we’re paid to do
Q: Anything else I didn’t ask that you want to say?
A: It’s really important to recognize that this is not me or the police coming out and telling the folks who are on social media that they’re doing something wrong because that’s not the case
The community is really gathering around this issue and trying to make sure everybody’s safe And in a circumstance where something was actually going on, that kind of information being out there would not be a bad thing. The problem is that right now, the information that is being propagated is based on something that’s just not true and that’s not helpful.
Winter Parking Restrictions
Starting December 1, 2024, parking on selectstreets in Squamish is restricted to one side only until March 1, 2025.
This ensures snowplows and emergencyvehicles can safelynavigate during winterconditions. Foralist of affectedstreetsand moredetails, visit squamish.ca/winter-parking
DevelopmentReview
• 38043 WestwayAvenue –DevelopmentVariancePermit squamish.ca/review
WHAT’SHAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE
Tuesday, December 3
8 am,Tuesday, December 10
HolidayCamps
Business Opportunities
• Xwu’nekwPark SeaDike&Upgrades –Request forProposals
• EV Chargers Installation –Requestfor Quotations
• CIPP Relining at WWTP –Requestfor Quotations
• Loggers East Storm SewerUpgrades –Request forProposals
squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district
Infrastructure
• Annual Watermain Upgrades
Work wascompleted on Mamquam Road last week.
• Watermain Flushing Continues throughout Squamish. squamish.ca/building-our-future
Nowavailable forregistration!
Various days andcamps to choose from.
Crib Club (55yrs+)
1–3 pm,Thursdays
The55 ActivityCentre
Enjoyacozyafternoon indoors withfriends at Crib Club! This selfled activityisperfect forarainyday
Drop-in paymentand sign-inare required.
Bus Trip (55yrs+)
December 12
Steveston Village –Choose ownadventure.
eveston is the perfect place to finish your holiday shopping with unique and eclectic offerings such asthe HolidayDisplays, Steveston Sips,Festival of Trees,WinterTram, and HolidaySelfieStations
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Youth Pool Takeover
Youhearditright—this is aPool Takeoverexclusively foryouth! If you’re aged 13–18, gather your friends and diveintothe fun. We’retaking over the pool on the last Saturdayofevery month. Next Takeover: 7–9 pm,November 30. Don’tmiss out.See youthere!
Notice of Disposition
What’s Proposed
Disposition by wayofastatutoryrightofway of an underground portion of Tiampo Park to FortisBC, within which FortisBCwill install an underground tunnel/pipeline to transport natural gas,aspartofthe FortisBCEagle Mountain –Woodfibre GasPipelineProject.
Special swims squamish.ca/pool
SensoryFriendly Swims
November 23 and 30
Wait times mayvary. An allinclusiveleisureswim time for those whomay have sensory processing challenges or are simply looking fora quieter swim. Music and all water features will be turned offand not available forthe duration of the swim time.
for details: squamish.ca/rec
TheDistrict of Squamish (“District”)hereby givesnoticepursuanttoSection 26 of the Community Charterthatthe Districtintends to grantastatutoryright of wayand section 219 covenanttoFortisBCEnergyInc., beginning midDecember 2024 (a “Charge”).
TheCharge will eventually encumber 1.87 acres,underground at an average depth of 350 metres,inapproximately the location shown onthe black dashed line,which parcelhas a legal description of PID 015-875-067 District Lot3428 Group 1New Westminster District.
TheDistrict will receiveafee of $98,000.
More information on this projectcan be found online at squamish.ca/woodfibre
This is the first of two notices,dated this 28th dayofNovember,2024 at Squamish, British Columbia.
SPIRIT SCHOOL FOUNDER AMONG BUSINESS AWARD FINALISTS
Danielle Searancke’s Spirit School recognized for fostering cultural and spiritual growth
NoticeofBylaw Readings
December 3, 2024,6 pm at Municipal Hall
District of SquamishZoningBylaw No.2200,2011, Amendment Bylaw(R-1Updates)No. 3103,2024, District of SquamishZoningBylaw No.2200, 2011, Amendment Bylaw(R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) No.3104, 2024,and DistrictofSquamish Zoning BylawNo. 2200,2011, AmendmentBylaw (MaximumDwellingUnit Size) No.3133, 2024
AFFECTED LANDS
Propertiescurrently zonedR-1 outside of high floodhazardareas and R-1, RS-1,RS-1A,RS-2, RS-2A, RS-3, RL-1,RL-2and RMH-2inhighflood hazardordebris flowhazardareas.
PROPOSED BYLAWAMENDMENT
The purpose of theproposed bylaws is to amend theZoningBylaw to:
More informationand maps of areas affected relatedbythe R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5amendments can be accessed online at: squamish.ca/bill-44-maps
BHAGYASHREE CHATTERJEE
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
When Danielle Searancke first arrived in Squamish 22 years ago, it wasn’t spirituality that brought her—it was race cars Originally from York Factory First Nation in Manitoba, Searancke had a career in motorsports, a far cry from the spiritual work that now defines her life
“My background in First Nations healthcare and motorsports wasn’t spiritual at all.”
It wasn’t until after the birth of her firstborn child in 2013 that reading with a local medium changed her path “She told me I could do this work, though I didn’t believe it at first,” she said
“I joined a class in Surrey and trained under that medium for years. I loved the process of spiritual development. It requires deep self-reflection and learning the language of spirit.”
This process eventually led her to establish her business Spirit School in Squamish, where she offers classes and resources to others seeking spiritual growth.
“Indigenous spirituality is deeply personal and honours the human experience and connection to Earth,” Searancke said.
“Indigenous spiritual practices root you in your humanity, showing that being human is both spiritual and beautiful.”
STAYING CONNECTED TO CULTURAL ROOTS
For Searancke, staying true to Indigenous spirituality means actively engaging in cultural practices.
“Because so many Indigenous people in Canada have lost cultural connections due to the residential school system, reconnection often involves personal rediscovery,” she said
She stays connected by participating in local community events, utilizing online resources, and taking advantage of programs like the University of Alberta’s courses for Indigenous people
“Squamish Nation is generous in sharing cultural practices, and I make space daily for spiritual practices that connect me to my spirit,” she added.
The role of ancestors is also central to her work.
“I believe our ancestors walk alongside us. They care about our healing and thriving. With their support, I’m working toward becoming a happy and healthy ancestor for future generations.”
PROTECTING SACRED KNOWLEDGE
Searancke walks a fine line between sharing her spiritual practices and protecting their sacredness.
•Address recent changesrelated to Bill 44 (Small-Scale,Multi-Unit Housing or SSMUH)thataddress residential areasinSquamish subjecttosignificantflood or debris flowhazard, forconsideration of first threereadings.
•Make minoramendments to the existing R-1zone.
•Establish amaximum sizefor a dwellingunitunlessithas been already established by abylaw.
BYLAWREADINGS
Consideration of first,secondand thirdreadings of theproposed Bylaws will be at the Regular MeetingofCouncilon December 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in Council ChambersatMunicipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish BC.
NO PUBLIC HEARING
In accordance with Provincial legislation, Section464(2)ofthe Local Government Act, localgovernments are prohibited from holdingpublic hearings relatedtorezoning applications that are consistent with the localgovernment’s Official Community Plan (OCP).
HOWTO VIEW THEPROPOSEDBYLAW
Acopyof theproposed bylawand relatedinformationthathas been or maybeconsideredbyCouncil,can be inspectedonlineoratMunicipal Hall: •Onlineat: squamish.ca/showcase •Municipal Hall at 37955Second Avenue,Squamish,British Columbia, from November 28,2024toDecember3,2024 between 8:30 a.m. and4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday. Enquiriesregarding theproposed amendmentbylaw maybemade to thePlanning Department at 604-815-5002 or by emailto planning@squamish.ca
This is thesecondof twonotices, datedthis28thday of November, 2024 at Squamish, British Columbia.
PHOTO BY ANASTASIA CREATIVE
In recognition of her work, Searancke has been nominated for the Indigenous Business Award at the Squamish Chamber Business Excellence Awards
SPIRIT: Continued from 9
“Some practices are private and meant only for my lineage,” she said.
“Others I’ve been given permission to share, either from an Elder or an ancestor I rely on community guidance to determine what’s safe to share and what should remain protected.”
When teaching or discussing Indigenous spirituality, Searancke is careful to address concerns about cultural appropriation
“I always differentiate between appropriation and appreciation,” she said
“Within any community, you’ll find two perspectives: some believe these teachings should be shared widely to help humanity, while others feel they must be protected because they’ve been taken away before Both perspectives are valid, and it’s crucial to honour them.”
She relies on discernment to navigate these complexities
“Part of my role is to read the energy of a space and decide what’s appropriate. In some settings, it may not feel safe to share certain practices, so I lean into the philosophy of preservation In other spaces, where respect for the culture is clear, I feel more comfortable sharing.”
CONNECTION ACROSS GENERATIONS
Searancke also aims to ensure that her children remain connected to their Indigenous roots.
“Even though they’re only eight and 10, I
remind them they are little teachers and wisdom keepers,” she said. “Sometimes they have more access to the community than I do, given that my grandmother’s community was forcibly removed by the government By giving them the space and capacity to teach me, they stay connected, and it strengthens their identity and cultural roots.”
York Factory First Nation, Searancke’s ancestral community, was displaced in 1957 when the government deemed the land no longer useful
“They effectively evicted everyone, forcing the community to disperse and find new homes,” she explained. “That led to a lot of trauma, including land and cultural disconnection.
“This isn’t unique to my family; it’s a common experience for Indigenous peoples across Canada,” she said
“Most of us are considered ‘away-from-home’ Indigenous people—we don’t have a home to return to.”
York Factory First Nation, once central to the Hudson’s Bay Company’s fur trade, was displaced in 1957 when operations ceased. The relocation to York Landing separated the Swampy Cree from their ancestral lands, homes, and heritage, causing lasting cultural and emotional trauma according to the Nation’s website.
While Searancke has yet to meet other members of York Factory First Nation in Squamish, she connects with them online. “Only now are we starting to have conversations about the emotional and cultural impacts of that displacement,” she said.
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES
“Many people drawn to my work are non-Indigenous,” she said.
“By walking in both worlds, I provide a safe space for them to ask questions and explore their curiosities. This, in turn, helps create safer environments for Indigenous people to be themselves.”
Searancke believes much of the racism Indigenous people face stems from misunderstandings about their culture.
“For example, some people don’t understand why we might prefer a slower lifestyle,” she said “Through my work, I guide non-Indigenous people in learning how to appreciate without appropriating.”
In her membership community, which is 70% non-Indigenous, she has seen growing respect for Indigenous culture. “This helps reduce appropriation over time, fostering more understanding and allyship,” she added.
RECLAIMING AND ‘REMATRIATING’ SPIRITUAL SPACES
“Rematriation is about centring Indigenous women in the spaces they lead and restoring feminine principles,” she said.
She explained that mediumship, like many spiritual practices, often leans into masculine values, emphasizing evidence and outcomes.
“By rematriating the mediumship space, I shift the focus to holding space in a nurturing, grounded way,” she said.
“I emphasize connecting with the Earth, balancing that connection with the heavens, and prioritizing community over individualism. It’s
They effectively evicted everyone, forcing the community to disperse and find new homes.
DANIELLE SEARANCKE
about restoring balance by integrating feminine principles alongside masculine ones.”
In recognition of her work, Searancke has been nominated for the Indigenous Business Award at the Squamish Chamber Business Excellence Awards She is joined by two other finalists: Deanna Wampler, social media strategist and educator, and FLEURESCENT Blooms + Rentals.
“[Being] recognized locally feels special, like the community is finally seeing me That’s deeply rewarding,” she said
“I’ve felt the effects of being misunderstood for having a spiritual practice In the past, I didn’t feel seen by the more pragmatic world. So, this recognition is an honour—it shows that my work matters.”
This year’s Squamish Business Excellence Awards, presented by RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate, will take place on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Cheakamus Centre in Paradise Valley.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief’s Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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EDITORIAL
CELEBRATINGTHE BESTOFTHE BEST
ThisReader’sChoiceedition of TheSquamish Chiefisone of ourstaff favourites of theyear.
It is also theedition that hasour funand festiveannualHoliday Guidemagazinetucked inside,which is full of helpfullocal gift ideas, recipes andstories.
ButbacktoReader’sChoice: it is thepaper of the year wherewecelebrate thebestofSquamish, as votedonby you,our loyalreaders
This year,wehad over 2,000votersand 117 categories That is impressive!
Well done to everybusiness, organization and individual whomadethe cut.
It is no secret that things haven’tbeeneasythis past year,for many.
With inflation, alabourshortageand supply chain issues,thistimedue to strikesand lockouts at the portsand Canada Post,on topofthe rising cost to rent anyspace in this town,itisstunningthatso many smallbusinessessurvivedtosee theend of 2024.
According to arecentBusinessImprovement AreasofBC(BIABC) survey,97% of respondents reported thecostofdoing business hasincreased in thepastfiveyears.
Thesurveyfurther foundthatwhile gross revenues hadincreased for37% of respondents, and stayed thesamefor 31%, profit marginsdecreased for60% of thosebusinesseswho took thesurvey.
Former presidentand boardmemberofthe association, Teri Smith, told oursisterpublication BIV that increasestothe minimumwage, the implementation of theemployerhealthtax,and the introduction of five paid sick days have allbrought profitsdown.
Nottomention regulatory complexity,cybersecurity threats, andother hard-to-predict and manage issues.
In theBIABC survey,86% of businesses in this province also said they hadseenincreased drug/ mental health-related activity,which impacted their business
Notsurprisingly, there’sbeenanuptickinbusiness bankruptcies in B.C.—179 in 2023,the highest number since2014, when therewere200 Allthistosay,congratstoall Squamish businesses andorganizations whohavecomeout theother side of thelastfew years. Andtothose whothrived to the point youwerevoted thebestofthe best,kudos!
Patyourselvesonthe back—hopefully,you enjoyedour awards ceremony foryou on Wednesday night—anddisplayyourSquamishChief Reader’s Choiceaward proudly.
Youearnedit.
Forthose whodidn’twin this year,don’t despair. Youlived to fightanother day—andifyou askus, that is winninginitself.
HAVE YOUTHOUGHT ABOUTTHE
LANDSCAPEINSQUAMISHLATELY?
VIEWS INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
Incaseyou forgot lately,Iwantedtotakethis moment to remind allofmy fellow Squamish neighbours that youliveinone almighty beautiful place
NowI’m sure forsomeofyou,thismight come as nosurprise—in fact,you probably agreewithme.
Butfor others,you mighthavereadthatand thought,‘Yeah,yeahweknow.’
Butdoyou really?
As Ileftmyhouse on Tuesdaymorning to go to work,Iwas awestruckbythe backdrop of this town
Themountains, whichhaveslowlybeenaccumulating more andmoresnow, finallyhad that extrabit of powder to coverthe lowertreeline.
Even theStawamusChief hadagood sprinkling of snow atop it.
Leavingmycar,Ihad to take amomenttosoakin whatIwas seeing.Atowncomingtolifewithpeople on theirway to work,while thelandscape surrounding us looked like somethingout of amovie or apainting.
“You gettosee this everyyear!”Iproclaimedtomy colleagues as Iwalkedintothe office;towhich those whohavelived in Squamish forlongerthansix months respondedwithaquestionable, “Yes?”
Anditstruckmethatfor many locals,thisview might have become thenorm, andperhaps no longer
aspecial thing.
Squamish is knownfor beingone of theoutdoor capitals of theworld,due to thehiking, biking and climbing,and that titlecomes as aresultofthe wondrous landscapearoundus.
People travel across theworld to seethe sights of Squamish,and thosewho arelucky enough to live here gettosee this everyday,intheir ownbackyard. As someonewho grew up in Australiawithzero mountainsaroundme(andwhenI sayzero, Imean we didn’t need bike gearstoget around town becausethe terrainwas that flat), gettingtosee this placeevery dayfeels like agift.
Andbeforeyou question whetherit’sthe firsttime I’ve seen snow (ormountains forthatmatter),rest assured, it’s not—Ijustrefusetoget tiredoflooking at this wholeplace
NowIknowthatthe days getdarkquickly,and for themostpart, winter life in Squamish meansyou can’tleave thehouse withoutaraincoat. Butbefore yougotoworknext, or even on your waytothe grocerystore,takeamomenttosoakupyour surroundings
Youget to look up at theStawamusChief, or towardsAtwellPeak, or theTantalusRange whenever youwant. This placeisyourbackyard; it is your home.How luckyisthat?
Nowthisisnot alltosay that youhaveto be amazed by theSquamishlandscape everytimeyou leaveyourhouse—I’m apositivepersonbut notthat positive—however,I wouldjusturgeyou nottotake this placefor granted.
Squamish is oneina million, andI,for onewillbe spending this winter lookingupevery chance Iget.
MOUNTAIN
(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OIL AND GAS SHOULD PAY
According to Rae Simpson (“Councillor wrong on Sue Big Oil,” published Nov. 20), it’s OK to leave the $40 million in dike upgrades, wildfire preparedness and other climate costs facing Squamish in the next five years entirely to Squamish taxpayers, while oil and gas companies make record profits without paying any of those costs.
How, Simpson asks, could we consider suing fossil fuel companies when pension funds and individual investors are invested in them?
Let’s think for a moment: why it is profitable for pension funds and investors to keep putting their money into an oil and gas industry whose products cause the massive flooding and other impacts that Squamish is working to address. This is because the costs that those products cause are missing from the balance sheets of those corporations.
This financial illusion is the same reason that fossil fuel companies have lobbied against climate laws and sat on patents that could have made low-emission vehicles and solar cells available decades ago. And why they now push false climate solutions that allow them to continue pumping ever greater amounts of their product.
The fact that companies put short-term profits over the health of our communities is not because they are run by “bad” people; it’s because they are rewarded financially and avoid paying for the costly climate impacts caused by their products Both companies and their investors make poor decisions when the companies bear no responsibility for the harm that their products cause.
Squamish cannot afford to pay the mounting costs of climate change alone, and the planet cannot afford for oil and gas companies to continue to duck the responsibility for their products
Simpson appears to be confused about the purpose of the lawsuit, insisting that it’s actually a lawsuit
against other levels of government (it’s not) He fails to grasp that Squamish’s contribution to the proposed lawsuit is intended to help B.C., municipalities bring the case and hire a legal team (and is not, as he incorrectly alleges, for the Sue Big Oil campaign or lobbying). He mistakenly asserts that a lawsuit against global fossil fuel companies for their global emissions is not a global solution He suggests (falsely) that a lawsuit would cause oil and gas products to “disappear instantly from the face of the earth.”
Instead, it would ensure that the companies start paying the true costs of their products and provide an incentive to invest in sustainable solutions.
But at the end of the day, Simpson seems most confused about the relationship between Squamish residents and global oil and gas giants. The fact that the industry has managed to keep consumers, and our pension funds, hooked on their products does not mean that we are “those who profited from it.” We are increasingly the ones who are paying for it. It is high time that the world’s largest polluters paid their fair share.
Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law For the Sue Big Oil campaign
RESPECT FOR RATS
Kudos to youth contributor Auni Dayton for her great opinion piece [“Rats—The underrated pets,” published Nov. 14] championing the wonderful qualities of pet rats last week. My partner and I adopted a pair of rescue rats last year, and I can concur with her observations of their playfulness, intelligence, and affectionate nature
In fact, it has affected both of us deeply, getting to know our new animal family members. We were blown away in realizing how the individual personality of each rat is truly so unique. Of our two boys, one
rat is very emotional, excitable, and adoring—eager to lick our faces, impatient to steal our snacks, and thrilled to get up to mischief with incredible feats of climbing and jumping (despite his clumsiness!) His brother is more watchful, careful, and considerate in his approach to the world around him—constantly looking to us for clues during training sessions as he attempts to master new tricks, puzzles, and behaviours He is so clever and always ready to learn something new
And despite their difference in disposition, our two rats are deeply bonded As one currently battles severe respiratory illness, the other is never far from his side This is one reason why it is so important that a rat always has at least one other rat companion they are incredibly social animals who thrive in groups and become lonely without each other. This leads me to what Dayton also mentioned—that perhaps the biggest drawback of welcoming pet rats into your life is their high risk of certain illnesses and relatively short lifespans. They are not with us for a long time, so we owe it to them for it to be a good time. Therefore, if a reader of this paper is interested in bringing rats into their lives, we hope that they are prepared to ensure high quality and appropriate nutrition, a clean, safe, and fun environment, and a vet fund on standby so that their rats can receive the same level of care all pets are due Rats don’t deserve less than other companion animals just because they are small and vulnerable In fact, given the love and joy our two boys have brought to our lives, we believe they deserve the world.
I hope that everyone has had or gets the chance to experience the same incredible depth of connection and love with an animal that we have And I once again thank Dayton for her article for bringing to light that animal just might be the humble rat!
Kendal Crawford Squamish
LETTERS POLICY
The Squamish Chief welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words. Letters should be exclusive to this publication and are meant to respond to a local story in The Squamish Chief or raise an issue happening in town Please include your name, neighbourhood and daytime phone number The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for Thursday’s edition. Full names and neighbourhood will be published with the letter The publisher reserves the right to refuse and edit letters for length and clarity or to address legal concerns Email letters to: editor@squamishchief.com
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Do you personally feel financially better off this year than last year?
Have your say at squamishchief.com
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
What is your biggest pet peeve about winter drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway? (Top 3 answers)
MOST READ STORY
Squamish council cut: Short-term rental licences change in 2025
TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK
This week, Indigo Lemay Conway headed to Walmart for Cram The Cruiser. Check out this and many other videos on our TikTok channel @squamishchief You will be glad you did!
ALLABOARD!:NORTH POLE EXPRESSRETURNS TO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
What to expect from this enchanting trainride; also,noDay OutwithThomasat theRailway Museum of BritishColumbia
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Itwas “All aboard!” forthe NorthPole Express, whichreturnedtoSquamish’s RailwayMuseumofBritish Columbia on Nov.23.
Thepopular all-ages holidayattraction, whichtakes guests on aridetothe “North Pole”tomeetSanta andMrs.Claus,runs Nov. 30,aswellasDec.1,7 and8, 14,15and 21,withseveral tripsand packages perday to choosefrom.
Theimmersive attractionseesthe train headedtodeliver “much-needed”wrapping paperand bows to Marshall P. Bear, the Polar Bear whoisthe head of Santa’s workshop.
On theridealong theway,passengersmeet all sortsofcharacters. Guests canenjoy cookies, unlimitedhot chocolateand marshmallows at theNorth Poleand take in many activities.
“You will eventually find your waytovisit Santa andMrs.Claus fora family photoshoot
topreserveyourmemoriesofthisexciting day,”reads thedescription of theevent.
Themuseum’sCraig McDowall told The Squamish Chiefthatabout 14,000 people attended theNorth PoleExpress last year Theevent oftensells out.
EXPECT SURPRISES
This year,there areafew newthingsto note
Thefinal dayisusually about10days before Christmas, butthisyear, themuseum addedDec.21tothe schedule
Thereare also some surprises planned, too, butMcDowalldidn’twanttodisclose toomuchabout them
“Whenyou come to theNorth Pole, after thetrain ride,you’regoing to seeacoupleof newfeatures. Andwe’re also goingtodoa couple of differentthingsonthe trainthis year,too,but people will stillget their cookiesonthe trainand theliveentertainment[moving]through thetrain on each departure,”hesaid.
About9,000 mugs have been ordered, alongwith3,000 otheritems that will be handedout,McDowallsaid, dependingon thespecificridetaken.
TheNorth Poletrainstravelnorth from the museum on Canadian National Railway (CN) tracks closetothe Squamish Riveror souththrough Squamish to Squamish Terminals. Alltrainsleave from andreturn to theRailway Museum.
When theattractionfirst beganabout a
decade ago, it wascalledThe Polar Express, afterthe famous moviestarringTom Hanks. Butthe non-profitmuseumhad to paya “quite largeroyalty”toWarnerBrothers, McDowall said During COVID, themuseumcouldn’trun theeventatall fortwo years.
When everything restarted, themuseum decidedtoleave themovie versionbehind andchangethe eventtothe NorthPole Express.
Organizers hadtoswapout anything relatedtoThe Polar Expressfor legal reasons, butfamiliescontinued to flockto theevent, andthe museum hasnever looked back
Outsideofthe StanleyParkChristmas Train, thelocal museum hoststhe only such event“northofSeattle andwestofToronto, believeitornot,” McDowall said He notedthatithas been asurpriseto organizers howdiverse theguestswho attend are.
Families with children whomay have long left Santabehindcomebackyearafter year, he said,and thereare groups of long-term care residentswho make atripofit.
“Theycomeupintheir little minibus, and they allsit together,and they just want to get into thespiritofChristmas,” he said.
Ticketsrun from about$41 perperson, plus tax(forcoach)to$66,plustax (for the night-time ride).
Thereisalsoagroup ride on theAlberta PrivateCoach forabout $1,750,plustax,for up to 15 people
NO DAYOUT WITH THOMAS IN 2025
Lookingahead to otherevents, the museum hasdecided nottorun itsDay Out with Thomas eventthisspring, though it mayreturnanother year
Onereasonfor thepause is that the attraction hasn’t been as popularasitonce was.
Also,Mattel, whichlicenses theevent,only hascertain datesavailable to host communities—Toronto, Calgary, andSquamish—and themuseumhas alarge eventalready bookedfor oneofthe weekends offered, McDowall said
“Weasked if we couldmoveour dates, and they said,‘No,wecan’t.’”
Thus,noDay outwithThomas this year
McDowall promised that thereisan exciting newevent in theworks forchildren this spring,but he couldn’t reveal it until more detailsare hammered out.
Stay tuned, he said!
FormoreonThe NorthPoleExpress, includingtickets,gotothe RailwayMuseum of BritishColumbia’swebsite.
Themuseumislocated at 39645 Government Road,inSquamish.
BUSINESS BEAT:TINYTOTS GYMOPENS
Thenew
kids’indoorplaygroundinDentville hasdesignatedspacesfordifferentage groups andisrun by daycare owner Aida Gomezand herfamily
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
iLemayConway@squamishchief.com
Itmight be acloudyand rainyweekend in Squamish,but inside Tiny Tots Gym, there’s nothingbut sunshine.
Much like themovie Encanto,which features a tight-knit family knownasthe Madrigals, Squamish’s very ownMadrigalfamily have worked together to bringanindoorplayground tolifeat107-39668 Government Rd,Dentville
Aida Gomez, herhusband AntonioMadrigal anddaughterEloisaMadrigalofficiallyopened Tiny Tots GymonNov.10, giving parentsand theirchildrenanindoorspace to play together.
For20years,Gomez hasrun Aida’s Daycarein Squamish,but afew yearsago,she realized there wasalackofchild-playopportunities in town.
“Itcamewithadream of beingabletowork with kids;that’swhatI love because I’ma kindergarten teacherfromMexico,”Gomez said.
“I heard, forall these years, parentssaying things like,‘We don’t have aplace to go with our kids to play,’ andsoI thought, ‘We’re goingto create one.’”
“SoItold my husbandI wanted to open agym, and then my daughter chosethe name andthe logo.She told me oneday,‘This is really happening,’and Itold hertoopenthe garage
PHOTOBYINDIGOLEMAY-CONWAY/THESQUAMISHCHIEF
Splitintothree areas,the gymnasiumisdecorated with brightcolours andMontessori-inspiredtoys.
door andsee howrealitis. It wasfullofthingsfor a gymthatIhad been collecting foryears.”
Togetherasa family,theyset up anddecorated the gyminunder twoweeks,ahugefeatwhich Gomezsayswas theresultofher husband’s handywood-work.
Splitintothree areas, thegymnasium is decoratedwithbrightcolours,Montessori inspired toys andchildren’smusic playinginthe background.
“Thesessionsgofor an hour and45 minutes, andit’smainlyfor onechild andadult,but obviouslythe wholefamilycan come,” Madrigal said.
“Wehavethree differentplaysectionsfor three differentage groups.Inthe frontofthe building we have theHappy Waddlers,which is from six monthsto20months. It’s fenced offsothatthey canhavetheir freedom andnot worryabout the olderkids.
“Thenthere’s theTinyTots, whichisfrom20 months to three-and-a-half yearsold.Theyhave a tracktheycan ride around on;theyhaveatiny town,and aclimbingwall.
“Thenonthe othersideisAmazing Kids, which is from three-and-a-half to five yearsold,
andtheyhaveaprojector with gamestheycan play,abig monkey barand climbing wall and balancebarsand allthatstuff.”
Onething both Gomezand herdaughterare adamantabout is that thegym is notadaycare “Peoplemight thinkbecause Ihaveadaycare that this is onetoo butit’snot,” Gomezsaid.
“Our goal is to have parentsexpandtheir relationship with theirown kids.Theycan play with theirkid,findout what they like andwhat skills they have andhow they canimprove on them.Weare just in thebackgroundiftheyneed it.”
As forhow theopening daywent, both mother anddaughtersaidthe daywas ahugesuccess
“Itwas full from about9:30a.m.to1p.m. Therewerelotsofpeoplehere; theHappy Wadlersareawas full of babies,” Madrigal said.
“Lotsofparents were saying,‘I’ve been waiting forsomething like this in Squamish.’ It wassuch anicefeeling to hear.”
Onesession at Tiny Tots Gymcosts $25, which grants entryfor oneadult andone child. For everyadditionalchild,itcosts $10and $5 foran additional adult.
Gomezsaidthe family areworking on creating punchpasses,and membership cardsaswell. Walk-ins arewelcome
Formoreinformation on Tiny Tots Gym, visit theirwebsite,tinytotsgym.ca.
ASEASON OF GIVING
Aheartfelt initiativededicated to fostering community spirit and supporting local non-profits.
During thisspecialtime of year,weencourage individualsand families to engagein acts of kindness.The SeatoSky corridor is blessed with incredibly compassionate communities; there arenumerous deserving causes to takeintoaccount, ranging from homelessness to health issues to the environment. Our mission is to upliftthose in need, strengthen community bonds, and inspiregenerosity in everyone.Joinusin making adifference this season—everysmall action contributes to alarger impact!
VALLEYCLIFFE ELEMENTARY HOSTSSPÁNANEXWPLANTINGCEREMONY
Outdoorclassroom eventbringsIndigenousteachings andenvironmental stewardship to Valleycliffe Elementary
BHAGYASHREECHATTERJEE
LocalJournalismInitiativereporter
Onacold Tuesday morning, with Valleycliffe’s snowline peekingthrough theclouds, students from Valleycliffe Elementary andthe St’a7mes School Indigenous Leadership Groupgatheredintheir outdoor classroom
Handsdirty andspirits high,theyplanted spánanexw (bluecamas)bulbs—a smallbut powerful actofcarefor theland.
Theceremonybegan with 17-year-old Kaltee Baker, from thevillage of St’a7mes,singing a traditional Skwxwú7meshsong. Hervoice echoed throughClassroom 8, wherestudents sat inacircleinLinda Peterson’s room before heading outsideto plant.
“It’s agift,”saidPeterson, whotookonthe project of planting 81 blue camasbulbs in an open fieldatthe school.
“Which school on theplanethas something like this?Aspace to learnfrom, tend to,and builda relationship with nature?”
ForPeterson, who’sbeenteachingsince 1998, thisoutdoor classroomisn’t just ateaching tool—it’sa“lifeline forstudentstoconnect with the naturalworld.” Andina time when forests arerapidly giving waytourban developments, that connection feelsmoreimportant than ever
WHY BLUE CAMAS?
Blue camas, or camassia,holdsdeepcultural and ecological significance.
According to apaper publishedin2021, blue camas (camassiaquamash), called spánanexw in theSkwxwú7meshlanguage, is aplant native to thePacific Northwest. It is culturally significanttoIndigenouscommunities, includingthe Skwxwú7mesh(Squamish)people, who have traditionallyreliedonits bulbsasa key food source.
“Itbloomed last year,and thekidswere thrilled,”Petersonsaid. “I thought, ‘Why not create alittlefield of it,likeitusedtobe?’”
Theideatookrootafter Peterson read a children’s book, Blue Camas, Blue Camas,which shefound at theGatherBooks downtown.“It talksabout howsettlersdisrupted Indigenous ways of life andnearlywiped-out plants like camas,”she said ForPeterson, theinitiativeismorethanjust planting bulbs. It’s abouthonouringIndigenous knowledgeand fosteringa senseofreciprocity “Wetalkabout beingina relationship with the land,” Peterson said “It’spersonal. What does it mean to care fora blue camasoranorthernriceroot?”
HANDS-ON, HEART-FIRST
Peterson andher students from Grade1 weren’tafraidtoget theirhands dirtyonNov.19. Overthe years, they’vemadestingingnettle pesto, harvestedsprucebuds, andevencrafted salves.“We’regifting thesalve we made last year to ourgueststoday,” Peterson said with asmile. Each projecttiesbacktothe FirstPeoples Principles of Learning.“If we usethese resources, we do it respectfully,” shesaid.
ACOMMUNITY EFFORT
Thebluecamas projectwasn’ta solo mission. Nineleadershipstudents from St’a7mes School,culturalworkerMaureen Baker, and others hadjoinedin. “It’sall aboutcoming together,” Peterson said
MatthewVan Oostdam, ateacher at the St’a7mes School explainedthe purposeofthe day. “Asleadershipyouth,wewerethere to pass on theteachings we’vereceivedas Skwxwú7meshyouth.These teachingsguide us on howtocarry ourselveswhenworking with plants,traditional foods, andmedicines.”
Thegroup shared theirskwálwen(spiritual andemotional self)withtheir peers.
“The youthsharedabout theirskwálwenand howwhendoing this work planting spananexw bulbsthattheyneedtomakesuretheyare feelinggood in theirmind, body andspirit.”
Lookingahead,Petersondreamsofplanting everyspecies mentionedinLeigh Joseph’s book, Held by theLand. “Wealready have afew,but imagineifwe couldgrowthemall,” shesaid.
ASIMPLEMESSAGE
Peterson’s messageisclear,“Appreciate the naturalworld.Takecareofit. It’s that simple.”
In aworld that oftenoverlooks thequiet importance of plants,Peterson hopes these lessonswillstick with herstudents. “Thisspace is agift,”she said with watery eyes.“Andit’sour job to care forit, with humility andgratitude.”
BhagyashreeChatterjeeisThe Squamish Chief’s Indigenous affairsreporter. This reportingbeatis made possible by theLocal Journalism Initiative
LindaPeterson.
Geordie Raymond Lansdell Puttonen
January 3, 1984 –November 17,2024
It is with aheavy heart that we announce the sudden and tragic death of Geordie-son to Jane (Glenn), grandson to Pat, brother to Deanna (Johan), nephew to Cathy (Don) and Claire(Tony), closecousin to Kippy(Scott) and Serafina (Jeff), cousin to Kelly(Rachel), uncle to Luca, and father to Ally and Riley, the loves of his life. Also left behind to mournhim are numerous family members of his late father Ray
Now somewhere else, we like to imagine Geordisreunited with loved ones lost –hugging his other mum Barbara, his grandpa John, and his dadTrapper Ray,and jokingaround withhis beloved buddies Haywood andJunger.
Geordie was akind-hearted, unique individual, relentlessly pursuing adventureand thrills inspired bythe mountains and the natural world. His manypassionsincluded skiing,fishing, mountain biking, and, above all,being afathertohis two daughters.Hedied in the outdoors doing what heloved with abuddy:some crazy-assactivity with no thought tohis safety.His 9 lives sadly ran out when natureclaimed him in the end.Bornthe Ft. Nelson New Year’sBaby of 1984, he acquired his love ofadventureand the bush with his Dad around the LiardRiver Valley in NorthernBC. He spent most of his adult years in Squamish.
Geordie wasanavidCanucks fan andhockey aficionado. He learned to playonhome-made ice and perfected his skills bywatching VHS tapes ofCanucks’ gamesoverand over again. He andGlenn, adevotedHawks fan, developedafriendly rivalry over the years and shared apassion for hockeycards.
Geordwas proud to serveasaparamedic for mostofhis working life. Hewillbesorelymissed by hisfriends and family
RIP G, loveyou always.
In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation to “Together We Can”, twcrecoverylife.org, or acharity of your choice.
Acelebration oflife will take place on January 3rd, 2025at2 PM at Gleneagles Golf Club,6190 Marine Dr,West Vancouver,BCV7W 2S3.
To write acondolence tothe family,please visit www.squamishfuneralchapel.com
Weareheartbrokentoannouncethesuddenpassingof StephenRochetta(age62)onNovember5,2024whilefishing withfriends.
HeisdeeplymissedbyhiswifeCindy,theirchildrenMatthew, Heather(Nick)andErin,grandchildrenKayden,ZoeyandLiam, sisterCarole-Annandhisfaithfulcaninecompanion,Murphy. Stevewaspassionateabouthisfamily,sportsandhiswork protectinggrizzlybearsandtheenvironment.Muchofhis sparetimewasspenthunting,fishing,clearingstreamsand rescuingsalmonfry.
Helivedhisloveforhockeybycoachinghisson’sand grandson’shockeyteamsandplayingfortheTuggers. Thewildlifeandtheirhabitathavelostoneoftheirgreatest spokespeopleandtheBostonBruinsoneoftheirmost devotedfans
ThefamilyextendstheirheartfeltgratitudetoSteve’sfriends BrianKlassen,RickMerkelandTatePatton,fisheriesofficers PascalGauthierandKirstenLee,helicopterpilotDougArnott andDr.LewiswhodideverythingtheycouldtosaveSteve’slife. AmemorialservicewillbeheldonDecember14that2:00pm attheCheakamusCentre. Inlieuofflowers,donationsmay bemadeinSteve’smemorytotheCoasttoCascadesGrizzly BearInitiative(contact:erica@coasttocascades.org)ortoa charityofyourchoice.
Towriteacondolencetothefamily,pleasevisit www.squamishfuneralchapel.com
StephenRochetta
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SNOWPLOW OPERATOR, Whistler –Valid Class 5BCDriver’sLicence required. Mustbeavailable from November15through March 31. On-the-job training provided. Wage depending on experience. $28-35.02 perhour
1. Lawn tree 4. Mastered 8. Chip in chips
12. Feathered stole
shirt 14. Poet Keats
Cereal container 16. Gardening tool
17.Eager 18. Faucet 20.Lawn 21. Hazardous
24.Stareblankly
27.Screening 32. 24th letters 33. Lad
Estateunit 35. Deerskin
37.Ancient harp 38. Clothes
41.Planet’spath
45. Perceive
49.Givenotice
50.Land amid water
52. Hops beverage
53. Fifty-fifty
54. Gentle
55. Bring to court
56. Attachesabutton
57.Writing tablets
58. Five plus five
DOWN
1. Fades
2.Partofabow
3. Long skirt
4. Smock
5. Paint layers
6. Forest creature
7.Fawn’smother
8. Not totally closed
9. PBS scienceshow
10.Not that
11. Last bits
19.Invited person
20._ whiz!
22.Helm direction
23. Saute
24.Hair preparation
25. Bunyan’stool
26.Pod inhabitant
28. Manservant
29.Wintry
30.Miscalculate
31. Very small
33. Risk cash
36. Lid
39.Ran amotor
40.Stinks
41.Has loans
42. Rant
43. Make beer
44. Rustic hotels
46. Bridgeseat
47.Pieceofevidence
48. MTVwatcher
50.Little demon
51 YelloworRed, e.g.
Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling
LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:
HOROSCOPE WEEKOFNOV 28, 2024- DEC4,2024
ARIES March 21-April 19
Sometimes,takingastep back canprovide youwiththe perspectiveyou need to see things in anew light. You’ll be able to analyzeasituation with abroader view,enabling youtofind solutions
TAURUS April 20-May20
Luck will be on your side, whether in yourprofessional sphereoryourlovelife
Positivepeople will cross your path to make your life easier.Yoursensitivityisyour strength.Expressyourself openly!
GEMINI May21-June 20
Change is often accompanied by strong emotions. However, good things will happen if you embrace new opportunities.You may alsoreconcile with afamily memberafter apastconflict
CANCER June 21-July 22
At work,you’ll have the opportunitytomake agreementsthat will greatly impact yourcareer. You have aknack for creatinga peaceful atmosphere.This
will inspireconfidence and help you successfullyguide others.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Youwon’t let othersimpose their will on you this week You’ll make changesatwork to enhance yourefficiency. Your artistic skills will improveasyou startcreating apiece of art.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Emotions and sensitivitywill takeupa lot of space in your heart. You’ll gain clarity on acomplicated love story. At work,you’ll be recognized and celebrated, whichwill be moving.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
You’ll work from home abit this week.Ifyou have young children, one of them may need moreattention. You must clarify some things with certain people.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
You’ll discoveranew gadget that will make you more accessible and improve communication for you.Get
readyfor upcomingtravels by updatingyourGPS app, especiallyifyou have atrip planned.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You’ll sparenoexpenseto impress. Youcould replace furnitureand appliances in yourhome.Decluttering yourlivingspace canhelp clearyourmind.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
You’ll takethe lead on aproject to make sure everyone understands what needstobedone.Anew beginningison the horizon in loveoratwork.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
If you feel tired,taketime to rest,rechargeand set new goals.Ifyou’vebeen neglectingyourloved ones,plan aget-together to reconnect
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
Youmight find yourself in acrowded environment, whether in real life or on social media. Acceptingyour friends’invitations to go out will help you relieve stress
HOWTOPLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the numbers1through 9only once. Each 3x3box is outlined with adarker line. Youalready have afew numbers to getyou started. Remember: youmust not repeat the numbers1through 9in the same line, column or 3x3box
Holy Communion and MorningWorship
Sundays at 10:00 AM Rev Cameron Gutjahr 1930 Diamond Road 604-898-5100
Exalting Jesus,Equipping His Followers,Engaging theWorld
www.squamishanglicanchurch.ca info@squamishanglicanchurch.ca WorshipService Sundays 10am on our website and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org
SUDOKU
