DOWNTOWN CRASH LEADS TO LOCAL CHARGES
Kyle Luca faces several charges
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Almost a year since the shocking incident, a local person is now facing charges for a downtown crash.
Sea to Sky RCMP (Squamish) said in a release that on March 11, Kyle Luca, of Squamish, was charged with two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failure to stop causing bodily harm and dangerous driving.
These charges have yet to be proven in court.
On April 22, 2024, officers responded to a report that a pedestrian, who was pushing a stroller with an infant while crossing the crosswalk at the intersection of Second and Pemberton Avenues, had been hit by a vehicle.
Police say the driver allegedly failed to remain at the scene and was located and arrested a couple of blocks away
“We are committed to keeping our communities safe and are pleased that the culmination of this investigation has led to charges,” said Sgt. Dallas Langley of the Sea to Sky RCMP, in the release.
PHOTO BY DARRYL SCHWANKE
RESIDENT COMMENDED FOR RETURNING FOUND WALLET
‘A great example of the strong sense of community,’ say RCMP
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Alocal resident is being commended by the Sea to Sky RCMP for their honesty after returning a lost wallet to Squamish police
While the person isn’t being named, a release from the local detachment says that on March 29, the Good Samaritan found a wallet in town and promptly turned it in at the RCMP detachment, at 1000 Finch Dr Officers were able to contact the owner, who
was grateful to have their belongings returned, the release states.
In appreciation, the owner of the wallet offered a reward to the individual who found it.
“We always encourage people to do the right thing, and it’s great to see this act of integrity recognized,” said Cst. Kelly Wu, of the Sea to Sky RCMP—Squamish
“This is a great example of the strong sense of community we have here in Squamish.”
Found property can be turned in at the detachment on Finch Drive, and efforts will be made to return lost items to their rightful owners
example
the strong sense of community we have here in Squamish.
CST. KELLY WU
Anyone with lost or found property inquiries can also contact Sea to Sky RCMP Squamish at 604-892-6100
LANDMARK RED HOUSE: A SYMBOL OF CANADIAN PRIDE AMIDST TENSIONS
Patriotism at an all-time high on Halvorson’s red house with Canadian flag, a symbol of national pride
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Keith and Della Halvorson’s red house on Government Road in Brackendale has long been a landmark, with its striking giant Canadian flag painted on the side
But it is likely that at no point in its 15-year history has that flag meant as much to the locals who drive or walk by daily as it does now, with our sovereignty under threat from the U.S. in recent months.
With President Donald Trump repeatedly saying Canada would make a great 51st state, and on-again off-again substantial tariffs, patriotism seems to be at an all-time high in Squamish and beyond
The Halvorson house is also special in its own right.
Built in 1932, it is one of the original houses in the area
It has been renovated a few times since 1987, when Keith bought it, growing from 800 square feet to its current 2,400.
HOW IT STARTED
Long-time locals, the Halvorsons wanted to put the flag up on the side of their home for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which was held primarily in Vancouver and Whistler.
“The torch relay was going by on Government Road, and then we realized we had the whole side of our house that we could make a flag,” Della told The Squamish Chief, noting that they didn’t quite get it done in time for the relay.
The couple painted the flag themselves, using a big tarp and a homemade stencil.
“Luckily, it is a fairly simple design,” Della said Members of the community have let the couple know the effort is appreciated.
“Over the years, we have had many comments that it does bring joy to the neighbourhood, which is pretty darn cool, especially now during a surge in Canadian pride,” Della said, noting she also usually has a basket on the front porch with a little Canadian flag.
If you want to drive by and check it out, the flag is not as visible in the summer, due to a blossoming apple tree next door, but is visible through spring, fall and winter.
(Have a patriotic symbol on your house? Let us know, news@squamishchief.com.)
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RCMP RCMP are grateful to the man who turned in a found wallet to the Finch Drive detatchment.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
and Della Halvorson’s red house on Government Road in Brackendale.
GOT NEWS?
Email your news tip or story idea to: jthuncher@squamishchief.com ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
A Q&A WITH THE SEA TO SKY NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY MP CANDIDATE
Jäger Rosenberg on running to win, what concerns youth and why you shouldn’t vote out of fear
optimistic about a potential better future, which I think is quite good.
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
While much is made of his age, Jäger Rosenberg, 18, who is running as the West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast— Sea to Sky Country MP candidate for the New Democratic Party of Canada, is no newbie to politics
He previously ran provincially to be the candidate for the NDP in the Powell River Sunshine Coast.
(That spot went to Randene Neill, who went on to become MLA for the region; she now serves as the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.)
At the Squamish all-candidates meeting on Tuesday night, Rosenberg held his own against the other candidates, focusing on housing, mental health, lowering the voting age, and other hot-button topics
The Squamish Chief caught up with Rosenberg just before he headed off to another all-candidates meeting on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday. What follows is a version of that phone conversation edited for length and clarity.
Q: Having been involved with two campaigns now—provincial and federal—how do they compare?
A: They’re quite similar. This one’s been much more fast-paced. With the provincial one, it was kind of a hurry-up-and-wait. This one is boom, boom, boom. Every day there’s something to do. So, it is a very different pace, but overall, pretty similar. This one has been very, very positive The mentality of the country has really turned around People are
Q: With people seeing your age, it’s probably a bit of ageism, but the question is, this isn’t just you running for the experience, right? If you actually got elected, you’re ready to go?
A: I’m running to win. I’m ready to go. I have lots of experience. I’ve run before. I’m involved in the NDP executive. I’ve been active in politics fully since I was 13, and involved partially since I was nine We need more regular people, and you don’t need to be a rich, connected, billionaire career politician in order to serve people
Q: You’ve seen the polls with the NDP being quite down right now. (On April 9, the site 388Canada has the NDP projected to secure seven seats, down from 24 when Parliament was dissolved.) What do you make of that?
A: I like to put it in the perspective of history. The same thing has happened every time a prime minister has resigned and been replaced by a new one. The new prime minister gets a polling boost for the first few weeks, and the NDP drops. Then the media talks about the NDP being done, and then once the leaders’ debates start, it turns around And we always improve a lot You know, in 2019, we were polling behind the Greens at the start of the campaign, and we were being written off. And then, we shot way up after the leaders’ debate and had a minority Parliament where we’ve gotten a lot of good things through since then And, we don’t have polling on the local level. We don’t vote for prime ministers, we vote for MPs. Things change. The only poll that really matters is the one on election day.
Q: Why is the NDP the party you were most comfortable running to be MP for?
A: Well, it’s a party that’s really rooted in the grassroots. One of my main passions is people-politics and the Liberal Party, they say
good things during elections, but they don’t deliver once they’re in power. They’re in it for billionaires and millionaires and big CEOs. And I’m LGBTQ, and the Conservatives want to take away my rights, and I could never support a party that doesn’t support my rights.
Q: What else do you hear from your peers in terms of what they’re really worried about?
A: I always talk about mental health For people of my generation, it is a huge concern. You know, when I was in high school, I didn’t know a single person who didn’t have some kind of depression, anxiety, some kind of issue like that Because really, life is so hard—how are we going to afford a home? What’s going to happen with the environment? There’s all those stressors.
Our education system is, frankly, outdated, and that’s no fault of the teachers we have. They’re trying their best to make a good situation for students, but it’s designed to make obedient factory workers, and that’s not the society we live in anymore. Youth feel like they don’t have a voice because they don’t The
voting age is higher than it should be, and when they do vote, politicians don’t really tailor their message to young people that much. They just assume they’re not going to come out and vote. So, there’s no good option for them. It is really hard to find a party that speaks to you as a young person because they don’t go out and talk to you that much.
Q: On your social media, I saw you encourage people not to vote out of fear. Can you elaborate on that?
A: We’re voting out of fear, and it’s not productive and it is not healthy. It’s a symptom of our first-past-the-post voting system Everyone is trying to convince you that the other party is scarier. And then once we get into a two-party system, we’ve seen what that’s done in America; it has really, really destroyed their country, and their democracy is on the brink of complete collapse. We’re quite lucky in Canada to have a multi-party system. You need to vote for solutions. Vote for the policy and leadership you think is best, not because you’re scared of what else is out there.
Q: What would you say to other young people, who may be looking up to you and looking at what you’ve done? What is your advice for them?
A: If you believe in something, go and do it Don’t wait around for someone to be the saviour, because that’s not going to happen If you think there’s something wrong with the world, don’t just sit around and complain Do the work Make the difference Even one voice can be very powerful and can really make a difference in the world.
Learn more about Rosenberg, his party and platform on the NDP website.
The Squamish Chief has been running one full Q&A with candidates each week. To see them all, go to squamishchief.com, and look under the Canada Votes tab.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Jäger Rosenberg.
Ryan Kinghorn
SQUAMISH VOTES: ONE CANDIDATE—THREE QUESTIONS
Keith Roy, of the Conservative Party of Canada, on what is at stake this election, how he would work with Squamish Nation, and what will help local families
JENNIFER
THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
With the election just around the corner, The Squamish Chief posed three questions to West Vancouver Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country candidates in an online survey.
Each question was the same, and each candidate was given the same amount of time to answer.
We are publishing each of their responses separately.
The answers are unedited (other than for the odd punctuation correction).
Below are Keith Roy, of Conservative Party of Canada’s answers:
Q: As you see it, what is at stake in this election for the Sea to Sky
A: We can continue down the path of the lost Liberal decade and give the Liberals a fourth mandate which will result in more expensive housing in the corridor, more crime in Squamish, more fentanyl deaths among our loved ones, and more food bank usage in
Pemberton or we can change direction and elect a new Conservative government that will axe taxes for everyone to make life more affordable, lower immigration and build homes to bring down the cost of rent, unleash Canadian energy to produce great jobs with
powerful paycheques in Squamish and put Canada first, for a change
Q: Define the relationship that would exist between you/ your party and the Squamish Nation, should you be elected as MP
A: Pierre Poilievre was invited to Squamish by
the Squamish Nation, and he came to announce our party’s economic reconciliation policy with members of the Squamish Nation by his side
I am honoured to have the personal endorsement of Chief Dale Harry, one of the hereditary Chiefs of the Squamish Nation I will continue to work with Nation members to help them develop their resources and work so that we all realize Canada’s full economic opportunity.
Q: How will things be better, if they will be, for the average working family in Squamish?
A: Our Conservative government will cut taxes by 15%, saving the average family in Squamish $1,800 We will lower immigration so there will be less competition when renting or buying a home, which will lower prices Families will save $100,000 on the purchase of a new home through tax and red tape reductions We will lock up repeat offenders and make our streets safer. We will put fentanyl dealers in jail for life
Our Government will stop funding the drug dens and instead, we will fund treatment for 50,000 people so we can help those people stuck in a life of addiction and make our community safe again.
VENTURE BY DA Y
Spend your days exploring endless bikingand hiking trails, paddling across the glassy lake, or soaking in the tranquility of the mountains. Afterward, return to the warmth of Tyax Lodge, where comfort and greatfood await.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Keith Roy with his wife and son.
SQUAMISH VOTES: ONE CANDIDATE—THREE QUESTIONS
Lauren Greenlaw, of Green Party of Canada on what is at stake this election, how she would work with Squamish Nation, and what will help local families
JENNIFER
THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
With the election just around the corner, The Squamish Chief posed three questions to West Vancouver— Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country candidates in an online survey.
Each question was the same, and each candidate was given the same amount of time to answer.
We are publishing each of their responses separately.
The answers are unedited (other than for the odd punctuation correction).
Below are Lauren Greenlaw, of Green Party of Canada’s answers:
Q: As you see it, what is at stake in this election for the Sea to Sky
A: I think we all know that our governance system is not working for us First and foremost in this election, we are deciding if we want to continue on a right-sliding path towards having a two-party system that consistently chooses industry interests over people, like in the US. Second, we are deciding if we want to address climate change in any meaningful way, as it is clear that the Liberal and Conservative parties are actively undermining efforts, funnelling billions of public assets to the fossil fuel industry: public assets that should be returned to us through healthcare, affordable housing and investments in green tech Polls show a Liberal majority, but we want minority governments that need to collaborate so they can’t steamroll agendas. We need deep systemic change, like tax and electoral reform, change that our major parties will not make because our current system benefits them. We need bold leaders who are prepared to challenge the system,
like myself, and bold voters to support them. Locally, we, in the Sea to Sky, have all felt the lack of support from the provincial and federal governments. The population in Squamish is increasing rapidly, but infrastructure has not kept up We need investments to: public transit to reduce congestion on the roads; healthcare to improve accessibility; and affordable housing to alleviate pressures. I am also committed to promoting our local economy through support of small businesses and the removal of barriers they have to accessing their markets and to support tourism, our biggest industry.
What is also at stake in this election is the protection of the waters and lands that make this part of the world incredible. That land
cannot be protected by building pipelines and accelerating climate change, nor is it protected by removing federal oversight of industrial projects We need to invest in our future by protecting our environment, investing in local economies and investing in local agriculture and infrastructure
Q: Define the relationship that would exist between you/ your party and the Squamish Nation, should you be elected as MP
A: I am committed to collaborating with the Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw council and knowledge keepers to represent their interests federally.
As your MP, I will call for the Government to act on every call to action from the Truth & Reconciliation Commission and every action from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls enquiry. I will work with the Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw to safeguard the lands and waters they have stewarded, and bring their voices to parliament when it comes to making decisions about this land I will also take action to reduce discrimination in the justice and child welfare systems that are disproportionately targeting indigenous people with devastating impacts to culture.
Q: How will things be better, if they will be, for the average working family in Squamish?
A: The highest priority for most families in Squamish is the affordability crisis The Green Party is proposing an increase to the tax-free income threshold to $40,000, which will keep money in our pockets- about $300/ month for anyone making less than $100,000 We will pay for this by closing tax loopholes for big corporate interests, including offshore tax havens, and ending fossil fuel subsidies, which will bring tens of billions of dollars annually back to Canadians.
Housing insecurity and affordability are huge problems in Squamish. We need the
Federal government to build more affordable housing, and address the hyper-commodification of housing through REITs and foreign investment, and crucially, we need to introduce rules on what ‘affordability’ really means, so when the Government says they are building affordable housing that will mean that a family or individual can pay their rent or mortgage with 30% of their normal income. Another way we can address affordability in the near future is grocery prices. I am working with groups throughout the corridor to increase support for local agriculture to make it easier to get local, affordable, healthy food to our tables I have a team of people working on creating efficiency systems to help build awareness of what local resources exist, including makers and businesses, to help people find local solutions to any of their needs. Keeping local money in our community and building a more resilient economy is how we protect ourselves in the face of political volatility from the US, and also from environmental instability from climate change
The second biggest concern I hear from families is access to healthcare. The Green Party platform also includes more funding for healthcare from the Federal Government to provinces, expanding community care, hiring more nurses and ensuring access to reproductive care across Canada. We also need to return our system to one of preventative care instead of curative And of course: investing in transit! We need to get cars off of the road, and give people the option to take transit North and South from Squamish for people to have access to the outdoors, work, museums, and shows, among other things Our communities are literally being designed around the promise that transit will come Let’s work with our Green MLA to get the investments our transit system needs to alleviate our current dependence on vehicles, saving households hundreds of dollars a month by not requiring two cars per family.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Lauren Greenlaw
SQUAMISH VOTES: ONE CANDIDATE—THREE QUESTIONS
Patrick Weiler, of the Liberal Party of Canada, on what is at stake this election, how he would work with Squamish Nation, and what will help local families
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
With the election just around the corner, The Squamish Chief posed three questions to West Vancouver— Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country candidates in an online survey
Each question was the same, and each candidate was given the same amount of time to answer We are publishing each of their responses separately.
The answers are unedited (other than for the odd punctuation correction).
Below are Patrick Weiler, Liberal Party of Canada’s answers:
Q: As you see it, what is at stake in this election for the Sea to Sky
A: This election is about two starkly different visions for Canada and our region It’s about the kind of country we want, the role the federal government should play, and how we stand up to Donald Trump. His re-election has made this the most pivotal election in generations.
Together with Mark Carney and the Liberal Party, I’m offering a forward-looking vision for our country where the federal government is a true partner in building a stronger, more
resilient Canada, not one that mimics Trump-style politics and leaves everything to the free market That means real investments in things like $10/day childcare, affordable housing, public transit, and helping municipalities to get housing built faster and at lower cost
of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into Canadian law, fundamentally changing the relationship with Canada and Indigenous Peoples from one of antagonism to one of partnership, the pursuit of truly co-developed pieces of legislation, and major progress in closing the infrastructure and service gap that exists
I am steadfastly committed to building a trusted relationship with the Nation, its leadership and its membership to help advance priorities for the Nation and the whole region I would like to build on the partnerships we have made on housing projects (like Senáḵw), on environmental stewardship (like Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere), on economic reconciliation, creating opportunities, especially for young people, and more.
I also want to continue to advance action on reconciliation nationally through work in Parliament, where before this election I served as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Together, we can walk the path of reconciliation in true partnership.
Q: How will things be better, if they will be, for the average working family in Squamish?
It is ensuring that services that matter, like dental care and pharmacare, are there for those that can’t afford it It means protecting our cultural institutions like the CBC by strengthening it with a local bureau in Squamish to cover the Sea to Sky. The Conservatives are planning to cut all the funding for below market housing that has built 1,100 units in our riding, deride $10/day childcare as a slush fund and will eliminate the funding that established 600 spaces, will end our partnership with Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton that is speeding up housing, will defund the CBC, and end dental care that is already providing coverage for over 12,000 residents in our region
A: I’m running for re-election because I fundamentally believe that as your MP, and with Mark Carney as Prime Minister, we can make life better for everyone in Squamish I won’t mislead you with slogans or obscure our policies, and it’s going to be hard work, but I’ll fight every single day for this community. Here’s what I’ll work to deliver for families in Squamish: We’re in a housing crisis, and we’re going to build our way out of it. We have an ambitious plan to build 500,000 homes a year, unlock private capital, and build faster by cutting red tape to reduce costs and speed up construction.
As we navigate global uncertainty, the key question is this: who can lead Canada through the next chapter and build a future we’re proud of?
For me, that means delivering on regional transit, taking action on climate change, making life more affordable, and growing our economy by unlocking interprovincial trade and expanding international agreements If re-elected, those will be the priorities I’ll champion as your Member of Parliament.
Q: Define the relationship that would exist between you/ your party and the Squamish Nation, should you be elected as MP.
A: We have been the first government to take reconciliation seriously, passing legislation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights
This will help create more housing overall, including cutting GST for first-time homebuyers on homes under $1 million, and increasing the amount of below-market homes We’ll cut income tax by 1% for the lowest tax bracket, saving up to $412 per person so you have more money in your pocket while maintaining and building on critical public services, like pharmacare and dental care
We’ll invest in regional transit that is so essential in our community, be a partner in community infrastructure projects like Brennan Park, continue to create more childcare spaces, and take action on climate change, which is felt so acutely here.
In a time when our closest ally and trading partner can no longer be trusted, we’re going to be focused on building a strong and resilient economy. That means working with businesses, attracting investment, and creating good jobs so that we can all afford to live in this beautiful community.
SQUAMISH VOTES: ONE CANDIDATE—THREE QUESTIONS
Peyman
Askari, People’s Party of Canada, on what is at stake this election, what his relationship with Squamish Nation would be, and what would help local families
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
With the election just around the corner, The Squamish Chief posed three questions to West Vancouver— Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country candidates in an online survey. Each question was the same, and each candidate was given the same amount of time to answer.
We are publishing each of their responses separately.
The answers are unedited (other than for the odd punctuation correction).
Below are Peyman Askari, People’s Party of Canada’s answers:
Q: As you see it, what is at stake in this election for the Sea to Sky
A: If we’re talking specifically about the Sea to Sky region, the impact of a U.S trade war—particularly under a second Trump administration—will be real In the short term, tensions may reduce American tourism in Whistler In the medium term, as our dollar continues to weaken under poor economic management, more Americans will return, not only to ski on a mountain effectively subsidized by a weak Canadian dollar, but also to buy up vacation properties.
That surge in foreign interest will drive up prices and accelerate what I’ve witnessed for 30 years: Canadians being priced out of Whistler and Blackcomb. More broadly, what’s at stake in this election is nothing short of Canada’s future. We’re drowning in debt, weighed down by bureaucracy, and watching our shared culture erode year by year
These aren’t just economic trends—they’re existential ones If we continue with more of
the same—short-term promises, central planning, and cultural fragmentation—we risk becoming a country that can no longer sustain itself The People’s Party stands for a different path: one that prioritizes economic sovereignty, local control, and a return to cultural confidence That’s what’s really at stake—whether we choose to continue down a managed decline, or whether we take responsibility for turning things around
Q: Define the relationship that would exist between you/ your party and the Squamish Nation, should you be elected as MP
A: The People’s Party believes in small government, empowered individuals, and strong communities.
We believe in the power of ownership and local decision-making. If the Squamish Nation seeks prosperity and sovereignty for its people, we are aligned in principle
Our vision is one where Indigenous communities, like all communities, are free to attract investment, build industries, and shape their futures without endless layers of federal or provincial interference
Whether the goal is high-tech innovation or revitalizing traditional sectors, those choices should rest with the people who live there. The role of the federal government should be limited to defense, law enforcement, and a functioning justice system. The rest should come from families, communities, and local leadership.
That’s where true responsibility—and true opportunity—begin. This principle extends to environmental stewardship. Canada has a rich tradition of respecting the land. But top-down environmental mandates don’t build culture— they replace it
Those who live close to the land are often the best caretakers of it We would support community-led stewardship, not centralized control. Our relationship with the Squamish
Our relationship with the Squamish Nation would be built on respect, autonomy, and shared values—not bureaucracy.
PEYMAN ASKARI
Nation would be built on respect, autonomy, and shared values—not bureaucracy. We want to see every community strong, self-reliant, and proud of its place in building a better Canada.
Q: How will things be better, if they will be, for the average working family in Squamish?
A: Most of the hardship facing working families today—whether it’s housing, healthcare, food, or the cost of living—can be traced back to one root cause: runaway debt and government overreach. We’re printing money, which devalues the dollar | Those with capital buy real estate, and those with income take on massive mortgages.
Squamish Curbside Battery Collection
•When: your Garbage service day: April 21st –25th
Both drive up land prices, pushing working families out of the market Meanwhile, the federal government spends so much on debt interest that little is left for healthcare And food? It’s inflated not just by money printing, but by a bloated regulatory system that prioritizes paperwork over productivity Permits, surveys, and compliance layers don’t grow food or build homes—they create government jobs at the expense of real work
Canadians are being nickel-and-dimed out of the quality of life they once enjoyed. A People’s Party government would tackle this head-on. We would cut wasteful spending, lower taxes, simplify regulations, and return control to the people who actually live and work in communities like Squamish. It shouldn’t be radical to say that a working family deserves a home, access to care, affordable food, and a future for their children
But under the current system, it is We need a new path—one based on responsibility, prosperity, and freedom. That’s what we’re offering.
•How: Collect batteries in aclear bag. Place the batteries on top of your Recycle
Tote on the curbside,theywill be collected by hand.
•Why: The recycletote will indicateyour participation and prevent batteries from being tippedintothe garbage truck.
Squamish is the first community in BC to offer aCurbside BatteryCollection Program. In 2024, 1,318 kgs of batteries were collected from the curbside service alone!
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Peyman Askari
Federal Election
Please notethat last edition (April 10), this notestated voting hours were 9a.m. to 9p.m. which wasincorrect; and specified one of the voting locations in Squamish, when people may vote at anypolling station. We apologizefor anyconfusionorinconveniencethis may havecaused.
To cast your vote in the federal election, please follow the instructions on your voterinformationcard, which will informyou of the closest polling station. If youdon’t have avoter information card,head to elections.ca or visit an Elections Canada officefor moreinformation. elections.ca
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HAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE
Pool schedule: squamish.ca/rec/ poolschedule
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SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE
AfterSchool Fun
Looking forafter school activities foryour child? Join us forfun and games allweek!
Ourwalking “school bus”will pick up at Squamish Elementary. Thefirst hour will be spent outdoors untiltransitioning over to The55ActivityCentre forsome indooractivities
No drop-ins available
Registration opens 8 am on TuesdayApril 29 forthe fall.
Badminton–All Levels at Brennan Park Recreation Centre Mondays,7:30–9 pm
22
REGISTRATION OPEN 8 am,TUESDAY, APRIL 29
Babysitter Training
May13–27
Calling all futurebabysitters! TheBabysitter Trainingcourse provides students with emergencyfirst aid,safetytips, and information on games that aresuitable forall ages.
Home Alone
May6
Is your 10 to 12-year-old ready forthe new responsibility of staying home alone? The Home Alone course is designed to preparechildrenwith the necessaryskillsand knowledge to be safeand feel confident whenhome alone forshort periods of time
HolidayHours
April 18 &21
Municipal Hall Closed
BylawServices
Call 604-815-5067 forassistance 8 am–4:30 pm
Brennan Park Recreation Centre 9 am–3 pm
Public Works Foremergencies: 604-815-4040 Office Closed
Squamish Fire Rescue Foremergencies: 911 Office Closed
Squamish Public LibraryClosed
The55ActivityCentreClosed
Ice Allocation
IceUserRequests forAugust 18, 2025 to May31, 2026 arenow being accepted
Requests Deadline: April30, 2025
IceAllocation Meeting
Wednesday, May14, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
This meeting will be held in person at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
Application details and the application form are available at squamish.ca/iceallocation,orcall Brennan Park Recreation Centre at 604-898-3604 to request apaper copy
DevelopmentReview
• 1499 Depot Road –Subdivision
• Marine Centre Employment: Area C Zoning Amendment squamish.ca/review
WHAT TO DO ON THE CHOCOLATE-FILLED LONG WEEKEND
Check out the round-up of Easter events The Squamish Chief has put together, including ones at the Sea to Sky Gondola and Lavendel Farm
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
The season of all things chocolate and bunnies is just around the corner, and The Squamish Chief has put together a list of places where you can get into the Easter spirit.
If we missed your event, please email ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
SEA TO SKY GONDOLA
Children of all ages are invited to an Easter Egg Gathering at the Sea to Sky Gondola on Sunday, April 20.
“The Easter Bunny has hidden chocolate treasures around the Summit Lodge and Plaza—and they need your help to find them!” reads the Sea to Sky Gondola website.
“With friendly staff to guide the way, little explorers can collect treats at themed stations and enjoy the adventure. Fun for the whole family!”
The Easter Egg Gathering runs from 10
a.m. to 12 p.m. and is free with a lift ticket or annual pass
But that’s not all happening at the gondola,
there’s also an Easter brunch to treat your taste buds
“Enjoy a delicious Easter brunch in the
Summit Lodge with family and friends. Brunch will be offered in a buffet style and features Canadian Back Bacon, Westcoast Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, Continental favourites, and so much more,” reads the website.
Tickets are going for $45.95, with tickets for kids aged 6 to 12 selling for $25 and kids under 5 eat for free
“Reservations for brunch are required; no reservations are required for the Easter Egg Gathering,” reads the website.
For more information, visit the Sea to Sky Gondola website.
LAVENDEL FARM
Enjoy an Easter adventure at Lavendel Farm on April 19.
Families are invited to spend a day with adorable farm animals, tractor rides, Easter crafts, face painting, a fire pit and an Easter egg hunt
“Choose from three time slots: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or 1 p.m. and enjoy a delightful day with family and friends,” reads the event listing.
“S’more kits will be available for purchase,
EASTER: Continued on 11
PHOTO BY GABE PIERCE/UNSPLASH
There will be an Easter egg hunt, plus face painting, games, crafts, prizes and bunnies at the downtown event
TOGETHERNEST IS THE NEW LOCAL APP HELPING PARENTS ADVENTURE WITH THEIR KIDS
Twin mom Emily Berkel launched TogetherNest to make it more efficient for parents and caregivers to find activities
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
Being a parent is no walk in the park, but one local mom has come up with a way to make things a tad bit easier when it comes to adventuring with the kids
Emily Berkel has called Squamish home for five years, and for almost four of those, she has been a mom to twins Zola and Theo
After a few years of struggling to find things to do in the area, she decided she would devise an app that parents and caregivers could use to see all the activities and services available for families
“The idea came about really a couple of years ago when I was looking for activities to do with my kids, and quite often, I would end up down a rabbit hole,” Berkel said
“It would often take me a long time and I would use Google or Facebook to try and find something for us to do, and sometimes I would get to the end point where I thought I’d found something that we want to do, and it would be for the wrong age group or the wrong date or the wrong time, or perhaps out of our budget at the time.”
And so TogetherNest was born
It is an app and web browser program that shows all the activities, events, camps, professional development days, before and after school options, playgrounds, pump tracks and home help options in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.
She said the goal for the program is to make it more efficient for parents and caregivers to find activities to do with their children
“I just feel like not everybody knows that the town has so many amazing local businesses and services on offer for kids,” she said.
HOW TO USE IT?
When you first open the app, a page pops up with information telling you about TogetherNest and how to use it
“The first page it takes you to is a map of Squamish, and what you can see are little icons which show you all the activities and their locations, and that’s in the activities tab,” Berkel said.
“The best thing to do from there is to hit the search button, and then there’s a filter in there. The beauty of that is you can then choose what you want to see.
“So you can filter down and actually just get a much more suited list to your needs pulled up, which just takes away so much of the struggles and the pain points and makes
it much more efficient.”
The other tabs include events and camps, and pro-d days, which are both laid out in calendar format, and before and after school options.
The help at home tab includes meal prep and home cleaning services, and doulas
“I feel like being a twin mum, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day, and you might need some help,” Berkel said on including a help at home option
The app also allows community members and business owners to add activities and services in the area.
“What I’ve done is I’ve made it so that anybody in the community can add their information in there, so each tab has a plus button in it where you can add in the information. You can show your business name, what ages it’s appropriate for and whether it’s free or whether it’s paid,” she said.
Berkel said the community response since she launched the app in March has been “really positive.”
“I’ve had a lot of people just say this is so necessary in the community and that [they’ve] already saved so much time from this,” she said
“A couple of people have said, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that existed, and I’m now booked into that,’ and that’s amazing to hear It’s already highlighting things people didn’t know they could do in the community.”
There is also no cost to add an activity or service or to use the app.
“At the moment, it is free for anybody to add, and it is free for anybody to use it I really want those two things to never have a cost barrier on them,” Berkel said
Visit the TogetherNest Instagram page to find out more information and as well as the link to download the app.
The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news To be considered, please reach out to news@squamishchief.com
Brought to you by Community Futures Howe Sound, The Sea to Sky’s resource for financing and free business support to help local businesses and entrepreneurs in the area. Connect with them directly and learn more at cfhowesound.com or email Kieran at kieran.hale@cfhowesound.com.
PHOTO ABOVE SUBMITTED; INSET PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
Emily Berkel with daughter Zola
EASTER: Continued from 9
but there will be no concession—so feel free to bring your own snacks and warm drinks.”
Free parking is available on site, and the event is set to go ahead rain or shine!
Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite and cost $12 with free entry for kids under 2.
TINY TOTS GYM
Head to Tiny Tots Gym for an egg-citing Easter event on Thursday, April 17
From 4 to 6 p.m., kids can take part in an egg hunt with the Tiny Tots bunny, face painting, a meet and greet with some real-life bunnies from Glacier Valley Farm and play fun in the gym.
“The first 30 tickets sold will receive a special Easter gift,” reads their Instagram page.
Purchase your tickets here
BRITANNIA MINE MUSEUM
Take a trip to the Britannia Mine Museum from April 18 to 21 for a golden Easter egg-venture
“Venture underground on a special seasonal tour where mining meets festive fun. Learn how everyday at the Britannia Mine used to be like a giant Easter Egg Hunt!” reads the Britannia Mine Museum website.
“Just like miners once searched for valuable ore, you’ll hunt for hidden golden eggs—then trade them in for a piece of golden chalcopyrite Continue the
adventure with a self-guided scavenger hunt around the site, solving clues for a chance to win a mystery mineral (one per child).”
The fun-filled Easter event is included with museum admission and can be booked via their website.
BRACKENDALE ART GALLERY CAFE & CULTURE CENTRE
Head to the BAG for an Easter breakfast, brunch or lunch on April 20
“Explore the space on an Easter scavenger hunt and earn a delicious treat. They’ll have colouring for the kids, drinks for the adults, and good vibes for everyone. Take in the art, play a game, and enjoy yourself in their history space,” reads the BAG website.
“The Easter Scavenger Hunt is self-guided and you can participate whenever you’d like between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Show the staff your completed scavenger hunt for a delicious Easter treat!”
Food specials start from $22 with a $10 mimosa drink special. No reservations are required
DOWNTOWN EASTER EGG HUNT
Head to Stan Clarke Park on Saturday, April 19th for a fun Easter-filled morning.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free for everyone to join.
There will be an Easter egg hunt, plus face painting, games, crafts, prizes and bunnies. View the Facebook event page or visit the Tourism Squamish website for more info
PHOTO BY AUSTIN SWEENEY
SOCCERFEST 2025: On April 12 to 13, around 72 teams from the Sea to Sky, Lower Mainland, and Fraser Valley competed in a weekend of soccer, put on by the Squamish Soccer Association (SSA).
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EDITORIAL
LEADERS,COLLABORATE
The tradewar with theU.S.and thecurrent federal election campaign areenoughto giveanyoneamigraine.
Beingavoter canfeellikeaparentwalking into aroomofscrapping children andtryingtofigure outwho didwhattowhomand why, whileeachkid yells,“It is theirfault!”
However, theall-candidatesdebateinSquamish last week wasarefreshingchangeofpace.
Thecandidatesinattendance(Conservative Keith Roydid notattend, unfortunately) showed what civildebatecan look like.Attendees maynot have hadtheir mindschanged,but they likely had thembroadened by thevarious ideas, putup againsteachother
What wasmostimpactful aboutthe nightwas thatbecause it wasapositiveand constructive dialogue,every candidatemadethoughtfulpoints thatlikelymanyinthe audience agreed with,even if they wouldn’t vote for that person.
Thisisthebestofwhatpoliticsand leadingcan look like:acivil exchange of ideas, with the understandingthateveryonewants thesame thing—to make Canadabetter—they just have different perspectivesonhow to getthere.
It is worthpondering if that meetingiswhatit would be like if Canada hadproportional representation, rather than thefirst-past-the-post electoral systemwehavenow.
With proportional representation,who is in powerisdirectlyrelated to thevotes they get.
If aparty gets 40%ofthe vote,theyshouldget 40% of theseats,statesFairVoteCanada, which advocatesfor electoralreform.
CHECKOUT YOUR CLOSET CATWALKFASHION SHOW
YOUTH COLUMN THEODORPARIAL
TheSquamishChief is amemberof theNationalNewsmedia Council, whichisanindependentorganization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practicesand ethical behaviour.Ifyou have concerns 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 anymateria containedinthispublicationis expresslyforbiddenwithoutthe prior writtenconsent of thepublisher.
“Under ournon-proportionalvotingsystem, a partycan winamajorityofseats andall thepower with farlessthanhalfthe popularvote.”
Howwould achangetoproportionalrepresentationhelpleaders getalong better andwork collaboratively?
Therewould be more voices at thetable,and an incentive to work together
“Reflexive opposition to the‘enemy’ wouldno longerbethe waytowin elections, becausevoters would have more than achoicebetween thelesser of twoevils,” sayLee Drutmanand Dustin Wahl in a Time magazine articleonhow to fixthe U.S. Congress(from 2023).
“Thiswould allowmorewaystoformacoalition ...capable of compromising andgoverning with a lot less infighting andchaos.”
Of course,inCanadawedon’t just have two parties, butsometimes it canfeellikewedo.
Most of us want proportional representation.
Anational poll by EKOS Research Associates in January 2025 found68% of respondents supported.
We won’thaveelectoral reform by April28, but whoeveriselected to representthe SeatoSky should remember that most of us want it.
MeetDreaMoothuofSoulHouse Productions andTif!ShenofNineTails Studio–two friends, artists,and fashionlovers. They bringa new, freshwaveofvibrancytothe Squamish fashionscene
Onehails from thecreativechaos of TorontoFashion Week,and theother from LosAngeles.Together, they’vebeencuratingeventsfor over twoyears.Now they’relaunching an unforgettablefashion experience that inviteseveryonetotakepart.
Your Closet CatwalkFashion Show is on at the BrackendaleArt Gallery: Café &Culture Centre on April24from6:30to9p.m Ticketsare $20.
Theinspiration andideabehindthisfashion show?
ConversationsacrossSquamish with locals wholong for more events andplacestowearextraordinary outfitstheylovethatare just hiding in theirclosets. Both Shen andMoothulovetocreatesocialplaces wherepeoplecan have funand play.
Howdoesitfeeltohostanevent that impactsboth aneco-friendlycommunity anda fashioncommunity? Shen andMoothusay they feel incredible that they caninclude folksfromall walksoflife. Every model, designer, stylist, andvolunteer is local, bringing their own flairand storytothe runway.
Whetheryou are“hardwiredfor adventure,”an artist,aclimber,a fashionlover,orall three, this event is your invitation to show up andshowout
“Fashion doesn’thavetobeunwearableorout of reach,”saysMoothu. “Itcan be joyful resistance,a way to expresswho we areand care forourselves in the process.”
Shen adds,“We allneeddifferent spaces to be creative–spacesthatinviteustoexpress themany layers of who we are. That’s what this show is about.”
Accessibilityisa core valuefor Moothu andShen, anditshows that they areeco-friendly, body positive, creative andlivetocelebrate counterculture
To Moothu andShen, “fashion also meansmaking somethingfromnothing.Takingthatpiece you’ve savedfor specialoccasions andwearing it to Nesters. Whoknows when that ‘special occasion’willcomeup? Just wear it proudly.”
Askedwhy they wanted to host theevent,Moothu said,“Whynot embracethe joyofdressingup? Our clothing,our jewelry, andevenour makeup are resistant. Taking care of ourselvesand celebratingour uniqueness is aformofresistance. Let’scherish that!”
Shen said,“Creating events like this is oneway I hopetobring people togetherand have funwhile beingcreative.”
Both Moothu andShenwantedtohosta community eventcentred around body positivity andsustainable fashion. It’s importanttothemthatthisfashion show canbea nightwhere everyone canexpress themselves
YOUTH: Continuedon13
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)
YOUTH: Continued from 12
through fashion, as well as show off how secondhand, vintage and pre-owned pieces can be fun, funky and beautiful.
There will be three parts to this show
First, there will be local folks who want to flaunt outfits from their own closet and walk down the runway This is a way to
wear a piece you’ve always wanted to wear, but there has never been an occasion to Second, there will be some stylists to give tips on how to style pre-owned clothes. Then there will be another runway where local designers and stylists will feature their outfits and pieces. They welcome the youth of Squamish to
join the show in the audience as a model or stylists. Anyone interested in modelling or styling can email organizers at ninetailsstudio.creative@gmail.com Find tickets on Eventbrite
Theodor Parial is Squamish teen who is also a member of the Squamish Youth Council— and is interested in all things fashion.
CANCELLING U.S. CONTRACTS IS A TIGHTROPE ACT
PROVINCIAL
VIEWS LES LEYNE
There was a colourful caution on t]he Canadian side in the early days of the tariff war regarding the strategies that might be used to bring U.S. President Donald Trump to his senses.
Various people noted: “We have to avoid punching ourselves in the face.” It was a reference to retaliatory measures that would end up hurting Canada more than the U.S. Premier David Eby is clearly keeping the advice in mind. The latest B.C. move, announced Thursday, is a lot milder than the rhetoric he has been using for the past several weeks about Trump.
“Premier directs government to cancel American contracts wherever viable” was the headline
It’s an appealing move to the vast majority of incredulous people who are watching Trump’s berserk economic moves and getting increasingly anti-American.
But “wherever viable” is a huge qualifier. After 40 years of more or less free trade on top of more than a century of mostly co-operative economic arrangements, cutting off that relationship is not as viable as some would like
Eby expressed his wish to see B.C. disengage from as many deals involving U.S. supplier as possible several weeks ago. On Thursday he issued a more specific directive to ministries, health authorities and core Crown corporations “to decrease B.C.’s dependence on goods and services from U.S. suppliers.
He said British Columbians expect the government to do what most of them are doing avoiding U.S. products wherever possible.
LETTERS POLICY
“That’s why we’ve directed our government to use its purchasing power to exclude American suppliers and support Canadian companies and trusted reliable trading partners instead.”
Eby said the initial directive was to shy away from future deals. The new order includes current contracts, requiring officials to look for every opportunity to “move existing contracts away from U.S. suppliers and cancelling non-essential government travel to the U.S.”
Existing contracts will be voided “where viable” and U.S. suppliers will be excluded from the government catalogue and other corporate supply arrangements. Subscriptions to U.S. publications will be cancelled. So will software subscriptions, but only “non-essential” ones.
Participation in U.S. industry and related associations will be paused or not renewed, and U.S. suppliers will be excluded from opportunities created by core government transfers.
There’s a key phrase in the announcement that hints at how complicated this is going to get.
“These directives will be applied, where viable, following an assessment of legal, financial, operational and other reasonable considerations.”
That leaves room for lots of re-thinking if the government realizes the shots it wants to take backfire
The only reason why the B.C. public sector deals with U.S. suppliers is because it is cheaper or more convenient So breaking off deals is almost certainly going to be more expensive, or cumbersome
Eby acknowledged to reporters how difficult the disengagement will be In the health sphere referred to here Thursday
Eby said a lot of medical supplies come from the U.S. “Obviously, these are the kind of things we’re not going to be able to
substitute
“We’re not going to incur dramatic additional costs.”
He said smaller service contracts will be the focus of the drive.
If cancellation is not viable, officials will still have to find ways to encourage development of Canadian alternatives The U.S. deals developed over time under trade laws that minimized restrictions on foreign suppliers
Eby said: “These are obligations that the president walked away from in order to attempt to destroy our economy and turn us into the 51st state.”
His directive is a bid to express his contempt for Trump over the “derogative and insulting and inexcusable” treatment of Canada. But it’s going to run headlong into his desperate attempt to get his deficit under control.
He claimed the government is “moving towards balance, identifying cost savings and reducing administrative costs.”
But all indications are the deficit will go up this year, not down That makes finding ways to hurt the U.S. without costing B.C. more even more difficult.
The bar on taking part in associations has a notable exemption
B.C. has belonged since 1991 to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, an association of five U.S. states and three provinces and two territories. It bills itself as “the gold standard of U.S.-Canada relations.” Elected officials meet regularly to maintain trade relationships.
Eby said B.C. will stay on board to “identify people friendly to our cause” and encourage them to press Trump to change course
Punishing U.S. suppliers while claiming B.C. is moving towards balanced budgets is a tightrope act that is going to lean heavily on that “wherever viable” clause. lleyne@timescolonist.com
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
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A NEW HOME FOR F AS IN FRANK THRIFT STORE DOWNTOWN
The thrift store relocated to Cleveland Ave behind Empire of Dirt and officially opened on April 5
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
Sometimes a change in location is as good as a holiday and that is exactly what F as in Frank has done.
The Canadian-owned vintage clothing store has relocated from the business park to downtown Squamish, making it the fourth thrift store along Cleveland Avenue.
Store manager Marissa O’Sullivan told The Squamish Chief that the change in location was to help meet the growing demand of shoppers, as well as to make it more accessible to get to
“One of the owners, Drew Heifetz, had already been trying to get an actual store location in Squamish, just so it wasn’t a warehouse and store together,” O’Sullivan said.
“Especially with the popularity and how many more people were shopping at F as in Frank, he was like, ‘We need a store, an actual storefront.’”
Despite being tucked away in the business park, she said the store had become more popular thanks to youth shoppers
“More people were coming by and saying that they’ve heard of us and with the big sales
THE NEW LOCATION
The store opened at its new location behind Empire of Dirt on April 5, replacing Hearth & Mantle Giftery, which closed earlier this year
“April 5 was our official opening and the first day not having the warehouse be a store and it was popping. There were so many people, I don’t think I’ve seen that amount when it wasn’t a big sale,” O’Sullivan said.
“It was a constant rotation of people, so we can tell that the location already is just so much more convenient.”
But they aren’t getting rid of their old location, instead using it solely as a warehouse for stock.
“The warehouse is just for processing clothes. That’s where everything will come in and get washed and sorted,” she said
FOOT TRAFFIC
that we do, like the fill-a-bag sale, that was super popular,” she said.
“We also had the biggest selection of Christmas sweaters in town, so everyone was coming to us [over that season] and I feel like that helped us become a bit more well-known in Squamish
“But really, it feels like the young people really are like the main people who [thrift] shop.”
While some businesses feel like the foot traffic along Cleveland Ave has dropped, for F as in Frank, they’ve never had more off-the-street walk-ins.
“With our old location being in the industrial area near Backcountry Brewing and the gym, you’re only going to get so many people [walking by], and most of the time it’s out of their way, especially for young people,” O’Sullivan said
“But our thought is that way more tourists come downtown, and as soon as the farmers market opens, there’s that constant stream of
people every Saturday You don’t get that foot traffic down there, half the time, people couldn’t even find us
“People actually come downtown, and they normally walk the whole Cleveland strip anyway, so now they can just add this to the list of places to go.”
PRICING
While the prices may be a little higher than your average second-hand store, O’Sullivan said it is to support their messaging behind reducing the amount of clothing going into the landfill
“With the pricing, it’s really trying to show people that it’s not just about spending and spending We want to put that value behind that item that you’re going to buy,” she said
“The last thing we want is for the clothes that we sell to end up in a landfill, because that’s exactly what we’re trying to make not happen.”
But for Squamish locals and those who live in the Sea to Sky corridor, there’s a 25% discount applied to every sale.
New stock is added every Tuesday.
The new location can be found at 38066 Cleveland Ave., at the back of Empire of Dirt. Opening hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through to Sunday, with Saturday opening until 6 p.m.
Visit F as in Frank’s website for more information and to shop their online stock.
PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Store manager Marissa O’Sullivan
CHECK OUT THIS HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY DAY FOR LOCALS
Fall Line Fitness, alongside five other health and wellness practitioners, are donating their time and services
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
Have you noticed some aches and pains lately and thought about visiting a chiropractor or physiotherapist or maybe even an acupuncturist?
Well a group of local practitioners are joining forces to offer a community day where people can pay by donation for their services.
Fall Line Fitness is hosting the event on May 4 alongside Anchor Wellness, Groms Physio + Co, Seed Studio, Summit Mobile Physio and Ccerlii Chow Acupuncture.
“Essentially it’s a day where practitioners donate their time and offer their services,” Fall Line Fitness co-owner and physiotherapist Emilie Whittemore told The Squamish Chief.
HOW DOES THE DAY WORK?
The sessions run between 30 and 45 minutes in length and include physiotherapy, massage and accupuncture, with all proceeds going to the Squamish Search and Rescue
“The idea is that we’re offering access to health care for those that might not be able to access it otherwise,” Whittemore said
While the event is by donation, Whittemore offered a guide for what people are encouraged to pay for each session.
For a 30 minute physiotherapy session, 30 and 40 minute massage and 30 minute acupuncture appointment, $40 each is suggested. For a 60 minute strength training session or massage, a $50 donation is suggested.
HOW IT STARTED
Inspired by Anchor Wellness who has been hosting community sessions for a few years now, Whittemore said the collaborative day will be a bi-annual event for locals to take part in
“This is only the second time that we’ve had multiple clinics joining in Anchor wellness has been doing this for a while, and we decided to do
DARTS & DAFFODILS
DON ROSS MIDDLE SCHOOL
EXTENDS OUR HEARTFELT
THANKS to Stephen Fryer for his incredible effort in organizing the delivery of re-purposed hockey sticks, nets, and brand-new hockey balls to our school. Thanks to his generosity and dedication, our students now have another fun way to stay active and engaged during recess. We truly appreciate his support in helping us promote outdoor physical activity and play!
our own [last year] and then we decided to collaborate last year in October with them and said ‘Hey, let’s invite other clinics,’” she said
“I have an entire list of all the clinics and all the gyms in the community, and I just kind of called and emailed and asked who was interested and available. We’re going to be doing this biannually in spring and fall, and we’re just going to do this as a massive collaborative day.
“The idea is that the donation amount to the local nonprofit will then be much greater than what one or two clinics could offer.”
Their last collaborative community day raised $1,430 for the Squamish Helping Hands Society.
“Every time we have a community day, we just sort of just chat about what’s relevant, and we know that spring is coming and Squamish Search and Rescue’s busy time is approaching, and so we feel like they’re a great group to go with,” she said on their reasoning behind supporting SSAR
HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED
While the day is targeted towards people who usually can’t afford these health care services, Whittemore stressed that the day is open to everyone.
“People are excited, people are stoked, but I think there’s sometimes a little bit of confusion as to who can access this, and really, it’s anyone,” she said
“I mean, the idea is ideally we’re offering services for people who can’t afford it otherwise, but at the end of the day, even if it’s your regular physio appointment and you don’t want to go through benefits one time, you can just offer what you can and have it go to a good cause.
“So it’s kind of a win-win situation really for everyone.”
To secure a spot for the day, visit any of the participating practitioners’ websites or head to the Anchor Health and Wellness website to see all the options.
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.
JAMEY-LYNHORTH WESSELSLINES UP NEXT UFCFIGHT IN JUNE
LocalsportsstarwilltakeonCzech Republic fighterTerezaBleda on June 14 in Atlanta, Georgia
INDIGOLEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
It’sbeenalmostfourmonthssince local athleteJamey-Lyn HorthWessels wasinthe UFC arena, butafter ashortbreak,she’s ready to getbackinthe octagonthisJune.
HorthWessels will take on Czech Republic fighterTerezaBleda on June 14 in Atlanta, Georgia, skipping outonthe Canadian card in Montreal amonth earlier.
“Montrealwould have been aquick turnaround,soIfeellikemyteamwas really hoping Iwould getalittlebit more time to just sort of relax andrecover andthenwe were offeredthis, so we said,yes,” HorthWesselstold The Squamish Chief.
WhileBleda’s fighting styleismuch of what HorthWessels is used to,there will be onebig differencebetween this bout andprevious opponents.
“She’s anothergrappler,so more wrestling, andshe’s alittlebit taller than some of thegirls I fought.The only otherbig difference is that she stands orthodox insteadofsouthpaw,”she said “Mylastfiveopponents have more or less been southpaw.SoI’llbefightingsomebodynot
left-handed, essentially.”
Herlastfight wasagainst MirandaMaverick on Dec. 14 in Tampa, Floridawhich sheonlyjust narrowlylost.
PREPARATION
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If there’sone thinglocalsknowabout Horth Wessels, it’s that she’salwayskeeping active and training, andthisisstill thecaseleading up to herJunefight andupcomingfight camps.
“I trainall thetime, I’malwaystraining, so for me, fightcampisjustabout making the specifics,”she said
“She’s agrappler,sowewantedtosee what she’sgood at with grapplingand drillescapes out of certainsubmissions, or practice defending takedownsthatshe likestodo, andshe’s been successful with.
“SoIguess formepersonallythe schedule and the training staysthe same,it’sjustthe intensity leveland thefocus on theopponentthat increases.”
As forhow shepreparesfor herbig fights outsideoftraining, HorthWessels saysit’sall aboutspendingtimewithfamily.
Sadly,Kat was leftatour door with a note, so we only know alittle about her.Whatwecan tell you, is that she loves to have hercheeks andears rubbed, and alittle treatofwet cat foodinthe morning is always met with enthusiasm.
“Duringthese last fewflightcamps over the years, my twonephews wanted dirt bikes, and myniece recently wanted an electric radbike. I don’t know whytheythought Iwas richand famous,but they wanted dirt bikes, so Ihelped themearnenoughmoney to buythem,”she said
“Wewereoriginallyshootingfor alittle50cc dirt bike,and we gottwo used ones.Wecollected cans everyweekend,and we wouldtakethem back on Sunday.Sotheywereabout like four and sixwhenwedid it andtheywould go to thebottle depotevery Sunday andunloadbagsofcansand collectcash.
“Now flashforward acoupleyears now, my niece haswantedanall toopopular radbikeand again,Isaid‘Icould notbuy that foryou,but I canhelpyou’and we arestill justfinishing the last little bitofwhatisowedand on thebike.”
Shesaidspendingtimewithher family helps keep herfilledwithyouthfulenergy.
Familyisahuge thing for me,and I feel like spending timewithmynieces andnephews,you know, just being around thekids, their energyisso, so real andauthentic.
JAMEY-LYNHORTH WESSELS
“Family is ahugething forme, andI feel like spending time with my nieces andnephews,you know,justbeing around thekids, theirenergyis so,sorealand authentic,”she said
“It’sjustrelaxing, anditkindofbringsyou back down to just thebasis of just laughing and beingpresent,and Ithink that that’s super important, andthatmakes me feel good.”
Allofthe activities in town also help actasa positive distractionfor herduringtense times.
“There’s just always things in town that are goingonand IfeellikeIcan usethatasa distractiontomydietormyfatigue andbeing outinthe communityand goingtothe places that we love to go,and just beingakid.”
Butone thingiscertain,Horth Wesselswillgo outand give everything shecan to bringhomea win.
“I feel like I’ve gotthatitchtowanttoget back in thereand I’mexcited to go throughthe next eightand ahalf, nine weeksofprepand showcase what we’vedone,”she said.
Jamey-LynHorth Wesselsand herhusband KaseySmith at thenew location of TheSoundMartial Arts
Walker,VeraM.
October 18, 1927 -April 07, 2025
Mom passed away peacefully at Squamish Hospice on April7 at the ageof 97. She lived agood long life with fairly good health anda wicked memory! So Ibetter get this right.
Vera was born4th of the 7siblings -4boysand 3 girlsonafarm ina southernAlbertatowncalled Stavely.She left home at 15 and workedinCalgary. When she met my Dad theysoonmarried and moved to Vancouver then built astoreinNorthVancouverwhich Mom managed. They had twogirls Carol andLouise buteventually theydivorced. Mom wanted achangesoshe took ajob as acookfor ashingle mill at Brandywine Falls in 1956 where she also cooked for thecrew clearing land for Daisy Lake andthe Dam. She cooked in shifts in twodifferent buildings! In between sheloved to fishand she would trade fishfor vegetables from Lillooet with thecrewon theWayfreight train. It was verylonelyinthe winter when allthe work stoppedand wewere the only souls there.
In 1958she took ajob for alogging crewin MountCurrie, Cascade Fir Products. The boss ended up beingher secondhusband, George Walker (alsodeceased). Mom was alwaysbusy-she had her chickens,ducks and turkeys andinaddition guinea hens and peacocks.Therewere also pigs, horses, donkeys, andmules, abeef calf and her prized milk cow, Honey. She hadabig well tended garden andcanned everything. She wasa very generousand giving woman, volunteering when needed and helping to raise 5foster children for a few years. She loved hergrandsonsand spent an enormous amount of time with themeverthankful of theproximity in which they lived.Theyleftthe Walkerville farmwhenGeorge developedAlzheimers, moved toWhiteRock andshe cared for him until hepassed.
Vera lived in Squamishfor morethan20years, volunteering at Pearls, Hilltop House and asecondhandstorethathad books. She loved to read and was neverfar from abook. She wasafabulous cook andcontinued making cookies for everyoneuntilshe went toHospice.
Vera was predeceased by bothhusbands andall of herbrothersand sisters. She was thematriarch of thefamily andmuch loved. She is survived by her 2daughters, Carol (Peter)and Louise,2 grandsons, Pete (Tanya)and Jason(Stephanie) 4great grandchildren,Asia (Taylor), Nile(Cecilie),Alex (Chantal) andMax anda greatgreat grandson (Wyatt).The familyis happythatshe is at peace butwe will all miss her so very much.There will be no formalservice at her request.
COMMUNITY NOTICES LOST
Missing Cat- White and Brown We are still missing ourcat Potato.Lastseenon Marinaside Place on December 3, 2024.We suspect shehas been misplaced.2,000$ reward for her safe return. Smallfemale catwithlittleskintag on right ear.778-549-2952
SUITEFOR
Evans Lake is Hiring First/Head Cook Batch cooking for 40-120 at youth camp, with experienceinordering, inventory, and special diets.$23-$28/hr + housing. Seasonal (March-Nov). Apply: food@evanslake.com https://evanslake.com/ getinvolved/ job-openings/
Employee Health &Wellness Plan available
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR– Minimum 5years or 5,000 hoursoperating experience onexcavator.Full-time,Monday –Friday.$33-$42per hour
HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENTMECHANIC – CommercialTruck &Transport, TransportTrailer, Class1or3air brakes preferred. 4x10 or 5x8 schedule. RedSealcertified receive $200/month tool allowance. $39.70- $47.90 per hour.5%premium on hourlywagefor Lead Hand position.
CONSTRUCTIONLABOURER– Greatopportunity to learnon-the-job. Stamina for physically demanding work and perseverance to brave inclement weather required. Previous experiencepreferred but notrequired.Trainingprovided. $25-$32per hour
HYDROVAC OPERATOR – Valid Class 1orClass 3withair brakes required. Manual transmission 2years experience preferred. $35-$40.45 perhour.
PIPE LAYER –Minimum 5years experience in civilconstruction. Full-time, Monday –Friday.$33-$42 per hour
TRUCK DRIVER –BCDL Class1orClass 3withair brakes required.Manual transmission 2years experience preferred. $32-$40.45 perhour.
1. Photos 5. in the bag! 8. Owl sound 12. Scope
Touch-me-____
Immobile
Child’ssteed
Cattle rush
18. Picnic-crashing insect
40.Etiquettemaven Emily_
41.Annoyed
44. “Mary alittle lamb ... ”
47.Morecrunchy
51.Infant
52. Word of pain
53. “____ HowShe Runs”
54.Needs aspirin
55. Conform
56. Finish
57.Difficult journey
DOWN
1. Mama’smate
2. Curling device
3. Hundreds of years
4. Express
5. Asserts
6. Handbag
7. All-male party
8. Shoot from the
YOUR
9. Emotional poem
10.“ _Yeller”
11. Golf mound
17.New York ballplayer
19.Brinyblue
21. Reason
23. Winding curves
24.Cat type
25. 8:01, e.g.
26.Accelerated
27.Trampled
28. Angel’shat
29.Rest
33. Covereddecoratively
37.Pea’s abode
39.Chip’s companion
42. Stand up
43. Enthusiastic
45. Qualified
46. Schoolroom item
47.Dove’scomment
48. Chafe
49.Polar sight
50.Timid
51.Baseball club
Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling
ARIES March21-April19
Embrace professional change without hesitation! Taking on new responsibilities will drive yourprogressand likelylead to asalaryincrease,evenif timebecomes an increasingly precious resource.
TAURUS April 20-May20
Youmay consider embarking on ajourneyoradventure that requires considerable preparation. Enrollingina trainingcourseordivingintoa new field of studycould change howyou seeyourfuture.
GEMINI May21-June 20
To reduce tensions,set aside some time for yourloved ones.This time you spend together will help you open up to each other and gain a deeper understandingofthe challengeseachofyou may be facing.
CANCER June 21-July 22
You’ll finallyhavetimeto spend with yourpartner. Youmustmakeminor adjustments to your relationship and free up time to do things with yourbetter half.This will help you resolve
SUDOKU
LASTWEEK’S ANSWERS:
Holy Communion and Morning Worship
Sundays at 10:00 AM
Rev Cameron Gutjahr 1930 Diamond Road 604-898-5100
www.squamishanglicanchurch.ca info@squamishanglicanchurch.ca
many of the issues that have been botheringyou
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
You’ll hear aboutajob openingthat alignswithyour professional goals.You’ll need to invest time and work hard to adapttoyournew responsibilities.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
You’ll be surprised to find yourself in the spotlightthis week.Yourpresence will captivatethosearound you, and you’ll receiveapplause for an impressive feat. You’ll performa heroic act that will boost yourself-esteem
LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22
Your familycountsonyour presence,soyou mayneed to spend part of the week at home.Although yourmoveis still afew months away,start preparingright away to stay ahead of the game
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov.21
You’ll knowjustwhat to saythis week,and your wordswill resonatefar and wide,especiallyonsocial media. Preparefor aseriesof enrichingtrips
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21
Indulge and spoil yourself this week.Takethe opportunity to wander through stores and boutiques.You’ll find useful items,and alsoa few goodies to brighten up yourdailyroutine
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Preparefor abusyweek ahead. Your enthusiasm and perseverance will setyou apart. You’re alsolikelytosee asignificantincrease in your income,whichwill giveriseto some wonderful celebrations
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
Exhaustion is catchingup with you,and asleeplessnight could jeopardizeyourprogress on certain projects.Embrace anew routine.Abalanced diet and regularphysicalactivity could work wondersfor your energy levels
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
You’ll be taskedwith organizingalarge-scale meetingatwork. Your social life will be buzzingwith activity. You’ll showempathy and innovation this week Divine inspiration mayguide you
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 numbers 1through 9in the same line, column or 3x3box
WorshipService
Sundays 10am on our website and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org
Exalting Jesus,EquippingHis Followers,Engaging theWorld See Website for Service times and location
coastalchurch.org/squamish
