April 24, 2025 by Pacific Coastal Publications LP

PAGE 5

E-BIKE PROGRAM SET TO BEGIN

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025

WHAT WILL THE NEW SAR COMPOUND LOOK LIKE?

The Squamish Chief sat down with SAR members to talk about their move to the Squamish Municipal Airport—Don Patrick Field in April 2026

INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY

ilemayconway@squamishchief.com

The Squamish Search and Rescue team will have a new home in 2026, but what exactly will that look like?

The Squamish Chief took a tour of SAR’s current compound and sat down with the project managers to discuss the plans for their new home at the Squamish Municipal Airport – Don Patrick Field.

THEIR CURRENT BASE

Located opposite Brennan Park Recreation Centre lies the present home of SAR’s compound

Tucked into a block shared with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations at 42000 Loggers Lane, the SAR compound is far from what you’d imagine when it comes to its size

Celebrating volunteers

Meet this local award-winning volunteer PAGE 15

Watch for the bikes around town in May SAR: Continued on 2

For a volunteer organization with 60 members, that does around two to three rescues a day on a weekend at the peak of summer, they share a parking lot with Ministry workers and have to expertly reverse three of their cars through one garage door to keep them out of the elements

This includes their flashy Land Rover

Defender 130 that they won through the 2023 Defender Service Awards.

There’s also only one toilet shared amongst all members, and no shower spaces to clean up after a big [and often dirty] day of rescues.

To store some of their other vehicles and boating equipment away from the elements, SAR

erected a tent structure in 2021 made out of two 40-foot containers with a tented dome as the roof

It’s a small but mighty home for a team that is so integral to the community, and as they get

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

The location of the new SAR base near the airport.

ready to move into their new space, it has given them perspective on the “must-haves” for their new facility

“We’ve been presenting our space needs to the District for a number of years, and then they started partnering with us to help us with finding more space. That’s why we’re moving to the airport,” SAR project manager Cindy Welsh told The Squamish Chief.

“There are a number of things we’re looking for in a future home, and that is more training space, and we want to be able to secure all of our vehicles and our trailers inside.”

Squamish SAR is moving locations because the piece of land they are currently located on has been sold. As such, they have to relocate by July 2026.

They plan to be in their new home by April 2026.

THE NEW SPACE

Alongside colleague Brendan White, the duo put together a “dream vision” for what they’d like their new compound to look like at the Squamish Airport.

“Brendan and I have been working together on this project for six years, plus I think. We started in 2019, and when you do something that’s this big and this important, it takes a long time,” Welsh said

The project will be built in two phases; Phase 1 will be a replica of their current compound, with Phase 2 acting as their “long-term dream” home

“What we’re creating at the airport is essentially functioning to the exact same capability as we have in this building. We’re recreating what we have now in the near future, and Phase 2 is the rest of the dream building vision, which we don’t have enough money for yet,” Welsh said.

White described the Phase 2 building as a “downscaled fire hall.”

“There will be multiple bays, and the vehicle bays we’ll be able to drive in and out

of, so we’ll have drive-through access to it,” he said

“Because that’s one of the issues we have now, is that every time we park vehicles, we have to back them in.”

The dream compound is a two to five-year plan, White said

Included in the building will be gear rooms and battery storage rooms as well as drying areas for clothing and equipment.

“There’s a big, huge training space that we can use in a variety of ways. A quiet room we can use if we have family who are quite distraught or concerned, we can bring them to a quiet place to be counselled, or just to have people around them that they are comfortable with,” Welsh said.

“We’re going to have a lounge area and a kitchen for our members and then bathrooms and change rooms because, interestingly,

now, we share one toilet with 60 of our members.”

The duo said that the new compound would also provide freedom of space to be able to operate without worrying about interfering with neighbouring businesses

“If we are called in on a weekday, we’re coming in here and we conflict with the Ministry staff who are operating here, so we have to work around that. So having something like this out there gives us freedom of space to move about without having to worry about that,” White said.

COMMUNITY HELP

White, who is the principal at PBX Engineering in his day job, said he’s been using his connections to seek out donated time and services from local businesses to help build the compound

“When we were first kicking this off in 2019 and we got closer to knowing kind of what we were doing I reached out to all the consultants I worked with and was like, ‘Hey, are you guys on board’ and there was just an instant ‘Yep!’,” he said

“A lot of them were like, ‘Yeah, you picked up my buddy off this trail at one point, or you’ve saved this guy that I know, or my son was picked up by you guys.’ So it was just immediate [support from people].

“There hasn’t been anyone that’s been like, ‘not today’ it’s really been supportive, which has been awesome.”

But they are still in need of help.

“Our fundraising team is developing their plan for the campaign for Phase 2. This whole sort of timeline for phase one was kind of our reaction to the fact that we need to leave this location next year by July 2026,” White said.

“We’re going to be looking at paving in probably in the new year. That’s one of our things we actually put on our like needs list to pave the driveway and the aprons all around our buildings. And then the other one is security fencing.

“[They’re] big ticket items for us, we’re doing some outreach on that at the moment, trying to find someone who wants to support that.”

SAR WILL RESCUE YOU FOR FREE

Did you know that all rescues SAR perform are free

“Through the provincial Emergency Management Program, they cover all costs for rescues,” White said.

“We encourage everyone to call us sooner rather than later. It’s easier to pick you up in the daytime rather than at night. It’s easier for us to mobilize and get to you before you’ve got too far or your condition has gotten that much worse that you’re now critical versus something that was a little bit more stable.”

Visit the Squamish Search and Rescue website for more information on the move and how you can get involved.

GOT NEWS?

Email your news tip or story idea to: jthuncher@squamishchief.com ilemayconway@squamishchief.com

HIGH COURT OVERRULES $10M AWARD FOR DENYING LOCAL POWER PROJECT

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Loo earlier ruled Greengen Holdings Ltd. lost an opportunity to achieve a completed and profitable hydro-electric project

JEREMY HAINSWORTH news@squamishchief.com

B.C.’s top court has dismissed a case in which a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled in 2023 that the province pay $10.125 million after it denied permits to a company that wanted to build a run-of-the river power project near Squamish.

Appeal court Justice Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten said in the unanimous decision of the three-judge court that the liability finding in the lower court reflected a palpable and overriding error of fact, “namely, that a ‘final decision’ was unlawfully made for the water licence by someone other than the statutory decision-maker, and fettered her discretion.”

It was the province that appealed Justice Kevin Loo’s Oct. 10, 2023 decision There, he said the plaintiff, Greengen Holdings Ltd., “lost an opportunity to achieve a completed and profitable hydro-electric project” after government representatives wrongfully exercised their legal authority, a transgression described in the ruling as “misfeasance.”

Between 2003 and 2009, the company sought to develop a hydro-electric project on and around Fries Creek, which sits opposite the Brackendale neighbourhood on the other side of the Squamish River. To do so, Greengen Holdings Ltd. required a water licence from the Minister of the Environment and tenure over Crown land from the Minister of Agriculture.

After a lengthy process involving extensive

communications between Greengen and various provincial and other ministries and regulatory agencies, the permits were denied, according to Loo. Both decisions cited impacts on Squamish Nation cultural sites that could not be mitigated.

Greengen asserted that the decisions were not made for reasons set out in the permit denials “but for collateral political purposes related to the Province’s relationship with the Squamish Nation (SN) and its desire to avoid a lawsuit from the SN,” Loo said in the ruling

It was after Loo’s ruling that Greengen applied to re-open the trial on the basis of an alleged mathematical error in the calculation of damages that would increase the award to $21.065 million.

“The judge granted the application to re-open, but declined to revise the damages award,” the appeal ruling said

THE APPEAL DECISION

The province advanced six grounds of appeal, including that “the judge erred in finding liability for misfeasance in public office without definitively deciding who made the decisions that were found to be unlawful.”

DeWitt-Van Oosten agreed.

She said in addition to the overriding error, Loo erred in his analysis.

She said Greengen required both Crown land tenure and a water licence to proceed with its proposed hydro-electric project.

And, she said, the decision-maker testified that, even had land tenure been granted, she would not have issued a water licence.

Further, DeWitt-Van Oosten there was no causation established to prove malfeasance in public office As such, the case had to be dismissed, she ruled.

PLAN RELIED ON CROWN LAND

The case dates back to December 2005, when BC Hydro issued an open call for power with Greengen. The company submitted a tender several months later.

On July 26, 2006, BC Hydro awarded Greengen an energy purchase agreement under which Greengen would be entitled to supply electricity at a fixed price for 40 years.

Unlike conventional hydro-electric projects, which store large volumes of water in reservoirs, and in so doing flood large tracts of land, a run-of-the-river project often requires little or no water storage. Instead, from a high elevation, they divert water from a stream or river channel.

Water is then sent into a pressured pipeline known as a penstock, and later passed through turbines to generate electricity, Loo explained. The system returns water to the original stream or river, or into another body of water.

The project called for most of that infrastructure to be built on Crown land, according to the ruling.

In early 2005, company principle Terry Sonderhoff discussed the Fries Creek project in a preliminary meeting with Squamish Nation Chief Ian Campbell

“Mr. Sonderhoff testified that Chief Campbell seemed supportive of the project at the time,” Loo said

Another meeting was held with Campbell

Mr. Sonderhoff testified that Chief Campbell seemed supportive of the project

at the time.

JUSTICE KEVIN LOO

and Dave Ingleson of the Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB), part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

“Ingleson recalled the tenor of this meeting as being positive, constructive, and businesslike,” Loo said

In April 2007, Greengen submitted a development plan to the province regarding its land tenure and water licence applications.

“This was a voluminous document which included, among other things, information regarding the expected environmental impact of the project, hydrology, and an archaeological assessment, Loo said.

SQUAMISH NATION REFUSES PROJECT

On April 27, 2007, the Squamish Nation wrote to the ILMB saying it did not agree with the proposal, that it had a right to consultation on use of the “sensitive ecological and spiritual area.”

The Nation later rejected the proposal

SQUAMISH VALLEY BRIDGE GETS REPAIRS AND UPGRADES

Find out when the Ashlu Road bridge repairs in the Squamish Valley will be complete and get updates on other nearby bridges scheduled for maintenance

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief.com

If you have driven out across the Ashlu Road bridge in the Squamish Valley over the winter, you would have noticed that it was getting a little worse for wear.

But not anymore.

The Ministry of Forests tells The Squamish Chief that recent inspections showed that the Ashlu Road bridge along the Squamish Valley Forest Service Road needed to be repaired, including new planking and guardrails

Work began this past March, with local business Sqomish Forestry Limited doing the work

“The job is expected to be ongoing until the end of the year,” a spokesperson for the ministry says

“The Ministry of Forests is committed to ensuring B.C.’s 12,000 kilometres of Forest Service Roads (FSRs) are designed, built, and maintained as safely and effectively as possible,” the spokesperson said.

Two other bridges that cross over Ashlu Creek,

one at the 2.2 kilometre mark and the other at the 6.9 km mark, will also be undergoing repairs, but the timing has not yet been confirmed, according to the ministry

45,000 vehicles travelled along the Squamish Valley Forest Service Road last year

See all Forest Service Road conditions on the Forest Service Road Conditions in the Sea to Sky District site.

PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS HUMMING AROUND: A Rufous hummingbird in the Squamish morning light.

The revamped Ashlu bridge over the Squamish River.

E-BIKE SHARE PROGRAM LAUNCHING THIS MAY

In May, 75 e-bikes will be distributed across 17 locations in town

INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY

ilemayconway@squamishchief.com

Anew e-bike share program is set to change the way people get around town in Squamish

Starting in early May, 75 e-bikes will be distributed across 17 locations, including the Mamquam Blind Channel boardwalk, Squamish Public Library, and Squamish Adventure Centre.

Head of Evolve E-Bike Share, Leanne Buhler, told The Squamish Chief that the pilot program aims to help people move around town more easily.

“It is a shared e-bike system where people can download an app and then walk up to any of the e-bikes that are in the community, and start their trip from the app,” Buhler said

“They can ride around for $0.35 per minute, and end their trip in any of the locations when they’re finished their ride So, what this does is it gives people a super flexible way to get around the community. They don’t need to own an e-bike, they can just use it for the time that they need it.”

While people do have the option to use the bike for an all-day adventure, Buhler said the program was set up for quick trips.

“It can be all day but ... the pricing is set up for lots of short trips. So, the average trip that we might see in a community is under five kilometres, and maybe in a 15-minute sort of time range,” she said.

“What we see mostly is people using it to get across town, to commute to work or to school, to meet friends for dinner or at a coffee shop Really, it’s that in-town commuting case, that the e-bike share program really works well for.”

The e-bike share program has operated in Whistler for four years, and Buhler said its success is what led to the expansion to Squamish

“We’ve always had this vision of expanding all of the e-bike shares across the province and in different regions. So this was a natural expansion to grow in the Sea-to-Sky region,” she

“We’ve been having conversations with the district of Squamish for a couple of years, actually, to find the right time and to make sure that they were ready to welcome the bikes into their community.”

SAFETY MEASURES

While e-bikes can be used on mountain biking trails, the Evolve share bikes will not be seen zooting along the network of Squamish trails

“We can set up no-ride zones, and essentially it’s a geofence zone, so the bike has a GPS device in it, and it knows where it is at all times,” Buhler said

“If it ever crosses over into one of these geo-fenced zones, the bike power will actually eliminate, so that it makes that a really

At 11 am, Iwill honour workers who have died, wereinjured, or became ill from their job.

uncomfortable and difficult ride. It’s our way of creating some zones within communities where the bikes shouldn’t go, and those are especially well used on mountain bike trails or bike parks.”

Another safety feature of the bikes is that the speed limits are set to no faster than 25 kilometres an hour

“What that does is it makes the bikes a really comfortable speed for new users and novice users, and it’s still a speed that’s appropriate to get in and around town, but it’s not so fast that it feels intimidating for the newer users of the program,” she said

COUNCIL COMMENT

At their general council meeting on April 15, councillors got to speak on the new Evolve

We can set up no-ride zones, and essentially it’s a geofence zone, so the bike has a GPS device in it, and it knows where it is at all times.

LEANNE BUHLER

e-bike share program and what it will bring to the community.

“When I opened up this memo, I was so excited to see that this summer, starting hopefully in May, we’ll have an e-Bike share program coming to Squamish, and I hope that it is as well used as I hope it’s going to be,” Coun Jenna Stoner said

“I plan on taking many trips on it, and look forward to having an additional option for folks to get around in our community.”

Mayor Armand Hurford echoed the same opinion as his colleagues.

“I think that being able to get this into a community of our size is amazing, and I do recognize that it is a challenging size to service,” he said.

“I’m really excited to see this here, and I know we have lots to do still [with our active transportation network] but it has made huge advances in the last years and I think this is yet another way to ensure that we’re seeing a return on those investments as folks will find new ways to use their active transportation network through this bike share.”

Hurford also noted that he recognized the e-bikes were “not a solution for everybody” but for those that were interested, they’d soon have a new way of getting around the community.

For more information on the program visit the Evolve website.

JÄGER ROSENBERG

WEST VANCOUVER -SUNSHINE COAST -SEA TO SKY COUNTRY

PHOTO VIA BCAA

75 shared e-bikes will be deployed across Squamish in May that cost $0.35 a minute to use.

HAULBACK BIKE RACE RETURNS FOR SECOND YEAR

The event organizers have applied to host the after party at Hop Creek Farm to account for more participants, but need the Agricultural Land Commission’s approval

INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY

ilemayconway@squamishchief.com

The second Haulback mountain bike

race is around the corner, and the event organizers are hoping to secure a new location for its after party.

After a huge success in its inaugural year, the folks behind the Haulback race are expecting almost double the number of participants—between 200 to 300—when it returns on June 21

As such, the venue for the after party needs to grow in size too, so they’ve applied to the District of Squamish and the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to host the event at Hop Creek Farm.

The 2024 Haulback race after-event was held at the Backyard Pub in Valleycliffe.

At the regular council meeting on April 15, District community development planner Aja Philp said the ALC would be the ones to have the final say on the event location

“The majority of the property is within the agricultural land reserve (ALR). The ALR use regulation allows gathering for an event, but it limits the number of people that are allowed to gather to the event to no more

than 150,” Philp said

“As the Haulback race is intending to exceed the 150-person attendance limit, the non-farm use application process has been triggered. If council does decide to forward the application, it is the ALC who will make the final decision on allowing the event at the farm

Philp said that because event organizers and Hop Creek Farm owners have stated “they’ll make every effort to avoid negative impacts to the farmland,” staff were recommending council authorize the application to be forwarded to the ALC.

Hop Creek Farms is a 33-acre farm that sustainably and ethically raises livestock, grows vegetables, produce and barley. They also have a petting zoo with miniature cows and sheep near the farm market.

The Haulback is described as a point-topoint mass-start race. This year, the start and finish line for the race would be located off Hop Creek Farm—but in close proximity— while the after party would take place on the non-farmed portions of the property

A report to council states that Hop Creek Farm would receive “no compensation for hosting this bike race event.”

It also said that the event aims to fill the

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void left by the historic Test of Metal race, which came to an end in 2016

“The event will include carefully managed entertainment elements, including a designated food truck area, live band setup, and DJ to create a complete community experience,” reads the report

“This event will take place over a single day, and there will be no loss of agricultural prodding land or crops as a result of this one-day event.”

COUNCIL COMMENT

With a smaller than usual council line-up— only Mayor Armand Hurford, and councillors Jenna Stoner, Chris Pettingill and John French were in attendance—the decision to support the application was almost unanimous.

“In speaking with the organizer, I was impressed with the lengths they’re going around discouraging people from driving to the start and finish and putting things and systems in place to really try and keep the number of vehicles that are on our roads connected to this event to a minimum,”

Coun French said “I have no doubt that the folks involved with this property are more committed to

farming than they are to special events, and I also know from the discussion with them that special events like this are an important part of making their farm operations successful.”

Coun Stoner echoed her colleagues’ sentiments and said that farmers should be able to use events like this to generate extra revenue.

“I do think there’s very clear examples of how important it is to be able to allow farmers, across the board, to have a variety of options for generating revenue, as well as for getting folks onto their properties to showcase some of the farming that is occurring within the community,” she said.

“I think that this proposal helps to achieve that and showcase kind of what is happening on that property, I think it has a community benefit as well, so I’m happy to support this and leave the ALC to determine whether the size of the event is appropriate or not.”

Hurford said he was “quite excited” to see Hop Creek Farms be involved with the Haulback race and use it as an avenue to connect with the community.

“I think it’s likely safe to assume that this

HAULBACK: Continued on 7

DISTRICT TAKES ‘MEASURED’ APPROACH TO REDUCING U.S. SUPPLY CHAIN

Learn how the District is navigating the provincial call to reduce U.S. supplier reliance amid trade tensions

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

Earlier this month, Premier David Eby asked provincial government staff to move away from U.S. suppliers where possible, due to the trade war with America sparked by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and talk of annexation.

A provincial government news release on April 10 said the B.C. government has updated its direction to ministries, health authorities and core Crown corporations to “critically review all contracts” with United States companies to decrease the province’s dependence on goods and services from U.S. suppliers.

“As people are choosing to buy B.C. and buy Canadian, British Columbians expect their government to join them in choosing to avoid U.S. purchases wherever possible,” said Premier David Eby, in the release.

“That’s why we’ve directed our government to use its purchasing power to exclude American suppliers and support Canadian companies and trusted and reliable trading partners instead We’re expanding that directive to include looking for every opportunity to move existing contracts away from U.S. suppliers and cancelling non-essential government travel to the United States.”

So, has local government done the same?

A spokesperson for the District of Squamish told The Squamish Chief that it mostly deals with Canadian suppliers, but there are some things it still depends on U.S. companies for.

AUNI DAYTON/FOR SQUAMISH CHIEF

The District adopted a new purchasing policy in 2020

“Although the vast majority of the District’s contracts are with Canadian suppliers, the District does use U.S. suppliers to provide some critical IT technology, such as Microsoft, and sometimes specialized equipment not available elsewhere,” the muni spokesperson said, in an email to The Squamish Chief

“Today’s supply chains are very complex, with Canadian and U.S. businesses being deeply interwoven/integrated The District is therefore taking a thoughtful and measured approach to prevent unintentional harm to Canadian and local suppliers. As the tariff situation continues to evolve, the District will continue to monitor its requirements and contracts and address as necessary.”

The spokesperson also noted that in 2020, the

District joined the British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative.

This initiative aims to harness B.C. local governments’ purchasing power to “support the local economy, mitigate climate change, contribute to reconciliation, and provide many additional community benefits,” according to the organization’s website

As a result of joining the initiative, the District adopted a new purchasing policy also in 2020, “to encourage future supplier contracts to go beyond ‘best value for money’ and become a tool and opportunity for positive economic, environmental, and social impacts that build a healthier local community,” the District spokesperson said.

“This approach has set us up well for this current situation.”

DARTS & DAFFODILS

AN EASTER BASKET FULL OF DAFFODILS to Brigitte and her smiling volunteer team for the amazing easter egg hunt for literacy event on Saturday at Stan Clarke Park The members of the Rotary Club of Squamish who helped were impressed by the great organization and the helpful attitude of all the volunteers, and by the smiles on hundreds of happy kids spelling words in the sunshine. Kudos!

BOOKSHELVES FULL OF DAFFODILS to Erika and the wonderful team at Squamish Public Library for hosting a fantastic Reading Link Challenge. Big bouquets to Vision Wealth Management for supporting this annual event by donating all the books to our school libraries. The teacher librarians and students in Sea to Sky School District are very grateful for all the new books to encourage their love of reading and the opportunity to test themselves in a friendly competition.

isn’t a huge money making endeavour for whoever is involved in likely any aspect of this. If this was to be a large wedding or music festival or something along those lines, I might feel different about this application,” he said

“But given the context of what this is,

which is a grassroots mountain bike event, which is a huge part of our social fabric of our community, I’m happy to support this.”

Coun. Pettingill was the only member to oppose the motion as he felt that the application should include council comment directing the ALC to “consider whether this use would negatively impact the farmability because of increase in land values.”

As the non-farming use application was endorsed by council, it will now be determined by the ALC as to whether the Haulback after party will be at Hop Creek Farms or if they’ll have to find another location

For more information on the event visit the Haulback website or Hop Creek Farm’s website

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.

Citizen Satisfaction Survey

TheDistrictofSquamish is conducting aCitizenSatisfaction Surveyto hearfromacross section of residents about howthey aredoing, and how the Districtisdoing when it comes to ourprograms and services Please consider taking the time to provide your feedback thatwill helpCouncil strivetobest meet theneeds of all Squamishcitizens letstalksquamish.ca/citizen-satisfaction-survey

HAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE

Pool schedule: squamish.ca/rec/ poolschedule

Arena schedule: squamish.ca/rec/ arenaschedule

WellnessThrough

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Mondays 2:15–3:15 pm

Wednesdays 1–2:30 pm

If laughteristhe best medicine,these programs arejust whatthe doctor ordered.These fun social programs are affordable and offer drop-in.

ndayFun Day(55+)

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Startyour week offlaughing. Bring afriend or come alone and enjoysome staff-led party-style games thatwill get youmoving and having fun. Drop-in available Monday,1–2 pm

SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE

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Grief and Loss

Conversations at The55ActivityCentre

Thursdays,6–7:30 pm

Areyou grieving the lossof someone closetoyou?Whether the loss is recent or not,grief can take over our days.Come and join this free 8-week evening session of peer support, facilitatedbyhighly experienced volunteers.Sessions takeplace from May8toJune 26. Drop-ins and lateadditions welcome but registration highlyencouraged. Pleasecontact jody.kramer@ seatoskyhospicesociety.ca to save your spot

Business Opportunities

• JimmyJimmy(Judd) Slough –DikeUpgrade Request forProposals

• Victoria Street ActiveTransportation Construction Request forProposals

• WWTP Electrical ServiceUpgrades Request forQuotations

• PiaForcemain Upgrade Construction Request forQuotations squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

Ice Allocation

IceUser Requests 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.

• 1499 Depot Road –Subdivision

• Marine Centre Employment: Area C Zoning Amendment squamish.ca/review

CANDIDATEPATRICK WEILER ONELECTIONPRIORITIESAND

LOCAL CONCERNS

AQ&A with theLiberal candidatefor West Vancouver— SunshineCoast—SeatoSky Country

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

Liberal PartyofCanada’sPatrick Weilerhas served as thememberofparliament for WestVancouver—SunshineCoast—Seato SkyCountry since2019.

He hasservedonnumerouscommittees during histimeasMP, includingaschair of Indigenousand Northern Affairs andFisheries andOceans, amongothers.

Previously,Weilerwas an environmental lawyer.

TheSquamish Chiefcaught up with theWest Vancouver resident by phonewhile he wasin betweenall-candidatesdebates, fora wide-ranging discussion abouthis experience,whatisat stakethiselection, thechangeto Mark Carney as leader,and what he thinks is gettinglost in this election campaign

What followsisaversion of that conversation edited forlengthand clarity.

Q: Howdoesthiscampaigncompare with the others you’ve been through? It seemslikea verydifferent time from previous elections.

A: Yeah,thiscampaigndoesfeelverydifferent I’d saymorethaninthe last twocampaigns, people arereallyfocused on what’s happeningaroundthe worldand what that meansfor Canada.So, obviously, with U.S. PresidentDonaldTrump cominginand the threats to oursovereignty,it’sreallybrought Canadians together in away that I’ve never seen before in my lifetime.And Ithink it’s really motivatedpeopleabout what we cando tostrengthenour country. Howdowe become more resilientina very uncertain world? Andsopeopleare very focusedon that. Imean, yousee theCanadianflags flyingeverywhere. Andpeople arevery motivatedthiselection, andI’m fairly confidentthat’sgoing to leadtoa very high voterturnout,which Ithink is very important toour democracy.

Q: Youhaveattendedafew all-candidates debatesindifferent communitieswithin our riding during this campaign,and you havebeendoor-knocking. What areyou hearingare people’s main concerns,and aretheydifferent in different regions of theriding?

A: I’dsay thereare differencesbetween each community, butthe top-level thing, just given the global contextand oursovereignty being putunder threat,thatisforemost in people’s minds. Andhow do we strengthen our country? Howdoweprotect Canadians?That

APLACE TO BE YOU

236-900-5389 |shannonfalls.ca 38225 Third Avenue,Squamish, BC

is thecross-cutting themethroughout. I would sayanother cross-cuttingtheme is how we’regoing to tackle housingaffordability because that’s an issuethroughoutthe riding Likewise, transportation challenges,the need forregionaltransit in theSea to Sky, is very much topofmind. Ferriesare always abig issue on theSunshineCoast,and congestion andthe need fortransit on theNorth Shore. Different localizedinfrastructure issues come up. But it always strikesmehow similarthe challenges andprioritiesare forfolks,evenif they metastasizedifferently

Q: Ithink everyone whoknows youwould agree that you’ve worked hardfor your constituents.You’reeverywhere, allthe time.But when Iam interviewing people, many are really struggling anddon’t feel like they’rebetteroff than they were,say, fouryears ago, or eightyears ago. So,what do yousay to that?

A: Ithinkaffordabilityisareallykey issue, and onethatthe federalgovernmentneeds to play astrongrolein. Youknow, we talked earlier aboutthe issueofhousing affordability, which is probably topofmindfor many folks, particularly youngerconstituents. That is an issue that Itaketoheart.It’smanyfolks that areinmygeneration, andsothishas to be a bigpriorityfor thefederal government. It’s not like theConservatives whowanttoscrap all theworkthatthe federalgovernment’sdoing

PATRICKWEILER: Continuedon11

PHOTOSUBMITTED PatrickWeiler.

Embraceanew beginningat a seniors community designed with comfort and stability in mind.

BritanniaMineMuseum gratefully acknowledges their communitysponsors:

NoticeofPublic Hearing

– Tuesday, May6, 2025 at 6p.m.

NOTICE is herebygiven thata PUBLIC HEARINGwill be heldsothatCouncil may hear and receiverepresentations frompersons who believethattheir interest inproperty is affectedbythe following proposed amendmentstothe District of Squamish Official CommunityPlan (OCP)Bylaw, Zoning Bylawand Phased DevelopmentAgreementBylaw:

•RZ000046: DistrictofSquamish ZoningBylaw No.2200, 2011 AmendmentBylaw (AreaC–Marine Centre)No. 3045, 2024

•OCP00009: DistrictofSquamishOfficial Community Plan BylawNo. 2500, 2017

AmendmentBylaw(Area C–Marine Centre)No. 3044, 2025

•DistrictofSquamish Phased DevelopmentAgreementBylawNo. 2387, 2015, (Area C–Marine Centre)AmendmentBylawNo. 3046, 2024

When Tuesday, May6,2025 at 6p.m.

Where Council Chambers,MunicipalHall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia.

Affected Lands

OceanfrontPeninsula lands within ComprehensiveDevelopmentZone No.69 (CD-69),Squamish, B.C. as shown onLocation Map1.

Proposed Amendments

DistrictofSquamish Official CommunityPlan

Bylaw No.2500, 2017 Amendment Bylaw (AreaC-Marine Centre) No.3044, 2025.

•Add policylanguage supporting childcare,rental and affordable housing, and lightindustrial uses onLot O.

DistrictofSquamish Zoning Bylaw No.2200, 2011 Amendment Bylaw(Area C-Marine Centre) No.3045, 2024

Amends the Comprehensive Development Zone 69 (CD-69) to:

Location Map1

•Permit alcohol beverage manufacturing, rental housing,commercial recreation, community activitycentre, cinema, high technology,motor vehicle repair,research and development, and lightindustrial uses in BlockC

•Requirealower parking ratio and higher bike parking ratio forBlock C.

•Permit childcareuse in Block I.

DistrictofSquamish Phased Development Agreement Bylaw No.2387, 2015 (AreaCMarine Centre) Amendment Bylaw No.3046, 2024

ThePhased DevelopmentAgreement(PDA) is a20-year agreementwith the developer,MatthewsWest DevelopmentLtd,thatexpires in 2035 and secures certain zoning provisions,contained within the agreement. Proposed changes include:

•Securethe deliveryof398m2 ofchildcarespace.

•Secure98m2 of building spacefor Squamish Arts

•Updating the PDA’sZoning Bylawwith DistrictofSquamishZoning BylawNo. 2200, 2011 AmendmentBylaw(AreaC –Marine Centre)No. 3045, 2024.

Affected Lands

OceanfrontPeninsula lands within the Oceanfront SubAreaPlan, Squamish, B.C. as shown on Location Map2

ProposedAmendments

DistrictofSquamish Official Community Plan Bylaw No.2500, 2017 Amendment Bylaw (AreaC-Marine Centre) No. 3044, 2025.

•Updating the names of the OceanfrontWalkwaytothe Ch’émesh Trail and the name of OceanfrontPark to Sp’akw’us Feather Park.

•Removing the need foranOCP amendmentfor anyrezoningthat proposes rental or affordable housing if sufficientinfrastructurecapacity already exists

Persons who believe thattheir interests areaffected by the proposed amendments will have an opportunitytobeheardand to presentwritten submissions forthe Hearing.Thereare four ways to participate:

1. Written. Written submission maybedelivered to hearing@squamish.ca,or dropped off to the CorporateOfficer at Municipal Hall before3p.m. on the date of the Hearing

2. Telephone. Participate by telephone by calling +1 604-449-3026 and entering the Access Code 277 351 97595. Dial *3 to ‘raiseyour hand’ indicating thatyou’d liketospeak.You will hear amessage that“your line has been unmuted”when it is your turntospeak.

3. Electronic Participation. Participate Electronically through the use of the WebEx platformbyvisiting squamish.ca/participate

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

Formoreinformation and fordetailed instructions regarding electronic and telephone participation please visit squamish.ca/participate in advanceof the meeting.

Acopyofthe proposed bylaws can be inspectedonline or at Municipal Hall (37955 Second Avenue) from April24toMay 6, 2025, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday, excluding statutoryholidays.

If youhave anyquestions regarding theproposed bylawamendments or howto participate in the hearing,please call the Districtat 604-892-5217

Council will notconsider submissions received afterthe close of the Public Hearing.All submissions will form partofthe public record.

This is the first of twonotices,dated this 24 dayofApril,2025, at Squamish, British Columbia.

on getting affordable housing built and ending the partnerships with municipalities that are speeding up their permitting, and cutting funding for groups like the Squamish Community Housing Society. The government needs to play a strong role to do its part to fight the affordability crisis, and housing is right at the top of that The Liberal Party has a strong plan to do that, and it’s invested about $272 million into affordable housing in our riding since 2019, that’s making a big difference for a lot of folks. I hear it when I talk to folks that are living in some of this below-market housing, they tell me how life-changing it is. And so what that really means to me is we need to continue to move down this path of tackling these issues, rather than just saying that the free market is going to solve all of it This has to be a key focus, whether that’s on housing or other cost-ofliving issues, and that’s feedback that I take to heart every time I hear that from folks.

Q: What are you most proud of that you’ve been able to accomplish, maybe specifically in Squamish in this last term?

A: I think really the key is on building strong relationships, whether that’s with the municipality, whether that’s the business community, or whether that’s the nonprofit to help them achieve their objectives and goals. That’s been something I’ve been working on since I was elected in 2019 Some of the most exciting projects are some

of the big investments in affordable housing, whether that’s affordable rentals in the SEAandSky project, whether that’s with PearlSpace for women who are fleeing domestic violence

It is investments in things like $10 a day child care, which are so, so critical, and we need much more of it in Squamish Those are the things that are already making a big difference that we need to do more of And then, looking ahead, what are the big solutions that we need going forward? And I’d say regional transit is right at the top of the list, and the federal government needs to play a role in that, just as we have in funding transit through an announcement I did with BC Transit about a month ago.

Q. The last times you ran were obviously, under Justin Trudeau, and you were part of the push to have a new leader. So, how do you see it as being different in this next term, under Mark Carney, than it’s been the last two in terms of what you can accomplish?

A: I’d say that there was a clear desire for change from a former prime minister That’s something I heard about fairly consistently, and frankly, to a certain extent, even in the last election, those calls really amplified in the years after that. And it was clear that that desire had really grown, and so obviously this was something that I take to heart as someone who listens to my constituents and is willing to stand up for what they want to see.

And it is a big change with Mark Carney. He’s someone who I’ve long held in very high regard for what he’s done for Canada, for Britain, for the world, and he is uniquely qualified for the situation that we’re in right now, where we need a steady hand at the wheel.

Someone who has navigated our country through a crisis who knows how to build strong companies and an economy, and that’s what we’re going to need to do right now. We have to reconsider what Canada’s economy is going to look like, knowing that we can’t rely on the United States.

The other thing is, I’ve seen a very different relationship from the leader and the prime minister’s office. He is much more in tune with what members of parliament have to say. And frankly, I’ve had more conversations with Mark Carney in the last four months than I had with Justin Trudeau in the previous five years. And so there is a level of engagement and being attuned to the local issues there, and you’re starting to see that in the policy announcements. And a lot of things that I know, personally, I’ve advocated for for some time, are becoming commitments that we’re making in this campaign And I’m very, very pleased to see that level of engagement because it shows Mark Carney is in tune with what’s happening right across the country.

Q: Is there anything that is getting lost in this campaign that you would like to point out or stress for our readers?

A: When we’re talking about some issues that

maybe haven’t had as much focus in this election, one that really sticks out to me is the ongoing fight against the climate crisis. We can see the increasing impacts every day, every year And this is something that I haven’t lost sight of, and something that our government hasn’t lost sight of We’re committed to meeting our climate targets. We’re committed to bringing in a cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector, and committed to growing the green economy that is going to power Canada and the global economy going forward. But it stands in stark contrast to what we’re seeing coming south of the border; it is a huge opportunity for us to do more and to get a lot of the investment that was going to the United States. And it stands in stark contrast to what we’re seeing from the Conservative Party that wants to completely abandon the fight on climate change which would weaken our country and would actually lead other countries, like the European Union, to bring in tariffs on us, and we really need to maintain that free market access when it’s being jeopardized from south of the border

Learn more about Weiler and his campaign on the Liberal website.

Other candidates include Peyman Askari of the People’s Party of Canada; Lauren Greenlaw of the Green Party of Canada; Keith Roy, of the Conservative Party of Canada; Jäger Rosenberg of the New Democratic Party; and Gordon Jeffrey of the Parti Rhinocéros Party.

PATRICK WEILER: Continued from 9

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EDITOR

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EDITORIAL

OURONLINEPOLLS HELP US LEARN ABOUTYOU

Our Squamish Chief online poll resultsare notsomethingwe wouldbet thebank on—we aren’t IpsosorAngus Reid,after all.

Buttheydogiveusauniqueinsight into what at leastsomelocalfolks think.

Andtheyhavebeensurprisinglyaccurateof late.

Ouronlinepollrightly predictedJeremy Valeriote,ofthe GreenParty of BritishColumbia, wouldbecomeour member of thelegislature

This election,the resultsofour pollshavebeen interestingaswell.

Forexample,asked:“Have youchanged your mind on whoyou supportfor MP during the course of thecampaignsofar?” 82%ofour poll respondentssaidno.

That is interesting, givenall theworkthe candidates do to earn residents’ votes.

Anotherpollasked:“Haveyou alreadydecided who youare voting forinthe federalelection?”

Awhopping80% said yes, andthatwas back at theend of March.

So,seems like most people have hadtheir minds made up from thestart.

Butonthe flip side,asked:“Compared with past elections, howmuchattention areyou paying to theupcomingfederalelection?”the answer that garnered themostvotes (50%)was “I am much more engagedthiselection.”

THEEND OF MAGICALTHINKING

FEDERALVIEWS

GRAHAM CAMPBELL

TheSquamishChief is amemberof theNationalNewsmedia Council, whichisanindependent organization establishedtodealwithacceptable journalistic practicesand ethica behaviour. If youhaveconcerns abouteditorial content, please contactEditorJenniferThuncherat jthuncher@squamishchief.com. If you arenot satisfiedwiththe response andwishtofilea formal complaint, visitthe websiteatmediacouncil.ca or call toll-free1-844-877-1163for additional information

Reproduction of anymaterial containedinthispublicationis expresslyforbiddenwithoutthe prior writtenconsent of thepublisher.

It seemsodd that people wouldbesoengaged if theyhad alreadymadeuptheir minds.

Of course,not allofour pollsare aboutpolitics.

Arecentpollasked:“Do you feel relatively safe from crimeinSquamish?”

Agoodswath of respondents, 39%, said,“Yes, I feel quitesafeinSquamish.”

Cominginaclose second,at28%,was the answer,“Ifeelsafefromviolent crime, butnot frompropertytheft.”

Otherpolls aremorelighthearted, like:“Did youstayinSquamishorleave forSpringBreak?”

In that case,38% said they stayed in Squamish, while26% said,“Iworked, so no break.”

Whetherprofoundorfun,itisalwaysvaluable forusto seewhatreaders think.

We have twonew pollsyou canvoteinright now:

1. Howdid you/will youvoteinthisfederal election?

2. Whodoyou thinkwillwin theWest Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—SeatoSky Countryriding?

Sincethe election hasput us in avotingmood, govoteinour next online polls, whydon’t you?

DonaldTrump hasbecomethe most influentialpolitical figure in Canada.Is that what’s best forCanada?

Thecontagion that is Trump’strollinghas ledto collective amnesia.Weseemtohaveforgotten both whoweare,and thedamageLiberal policy has done to Canada over thelast10years

We should resist this form of Trumpderangement in allits manifestations andfocus on Canada’s priorities,act independently, andcome to termswithhow farCanadahas gone offcourse, weakened as adirectresultofLiberal mismanagementofimmigration,healthcare, education, housing, thecostoflivingand the economy. No onehas been untouched.

PrestonManning’s warningthataLiberal victorycould heighten westernalienationwas made becausehecares aboutaunified Canada. Mark Carney said Mr.Manning’s warningwas “unhelpful.”

There’snot much distance betweenhis “unhelpful”and Trudeau’s“unacceptable.”

It reflects thedismissal thewesthas knownfor

toolong. Carney’s reaction wasfar from pragmatic. He says,“Iknowthe west”but does he really.Heleft41years ago. Davosisnot Drumheller.Evidencesuggestsheknows the WEFand an enclaveofcloisteredadvisors, but notthe west.He’scarryingonthe Liberalway.If youdisagree, youare dismissedas“asmall fringe minority.”

Fornineplusyears Liberalgovernment, that Carney advised, held Canada back.Wehavebeen made more vulnerable by policies that hurt our economy.Carneypretendsthathehas hada ‘road to Damascus’conversiononCanada’senergyand naturalresources.Hehasn’t. He hasone priority—toretainpower.Hewillsay whatever he cantoreach that goal andthenhe’ll do whatever he wantsafterwards.

Apragmatistwould neverhavesupported,as Carney did, theLiberal energy policies that continuedour reliance on theU.S.Apragmatist wouldnot have said no to theNorthernGateway pipeline andwould notretainBills C69withits impossible Impact Assessment Act, atruestrait jacket Canadian prosperity.

Apragmatistwould repeal BillsC69 andC48, knowingtheycreateinsurmountablebarriersto critical national infrastructure.Far from the “build faster than we canimagine”words that

VIEWS: 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)

VIEWS: Continued from 12

Carney says, Bill C69 sends a clear message to all: don’t invest, don’t build. Canada is not open for business in the energy sector All Canadians should understand that

The commitments Carney’s made since his telephone call with Trump will stop or stall nationally essential pipelines to the Pacific and the Atlantic Does anyone really think Trump would rather pay full price for our energy than the current 70 % discount assured by Carney’s Bill C69 and C48. Delivering Canada’s energy to international markets in Asia and Europe dramatically reduces our dependence on Trump’s America, improves the global environment, and super charges Canada’s economy. Currently, Americans derive more economic benefit from Canada’s energy resources than Canadians do. Carney’s guarantees this unacceptable status quo. No wonder Carney is Trump’s new favourite prime Mmnister!

We need pipelines. Building pipelines is pragmatic. Not to build them is wrong.

There can be no vetoes, either provincial or Indigenous, to nationally vital infrastructure. Pipelines are vital.

The federal revenues they generate can be shared with the Indigenous people If a province threatens to stop one, then they should be denied any equalization payments

We need to strengthen Canada by acting as one nation where national interests take precedence over provincial or political ones

Most troubles Canada faces were generated by the Liberals, not by Donald Trump.

An election is no time for magical thinking It is time to get real

Simply ask, has the last nine plus years strengthened and advanced your interests or Canada’s? Is your family better off?

Canada’s economy is in decline, per capita GDP is at the bottom of the OECD list. The flight of capital has reduced opportunity and hopes for the

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

NOT VOTING

I’ve got a degree in Political Science. Today is the day I’ve decided not to vote

The advanced polls are open today, April 18, and guess what? Not a single major federal party has yet released a costed platform That is deliberate and unacceptable I’ve decided to take a serious position and not vote

The Green Party, which did release its platform, actually has some decent ideas on national security Surprising, right? But I can’t help but think the childish Conservative Party might be the slap in the face we need to shake things up Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy about it, but I can’t ignore it On the flip side, I’m done with the Liberals, 10 years of style and zero substance? There is a serious and credible threat to our sovereignty, and

LETTERS POLICY

the party is concerned about firearm control Please explain that to me? And the NDP? Love the principles, but where’s the vision?

The thing is, no party gets my vote right now. This whole election is a dumpster fire Shelter is treated like some luxury product, and the cost of living has absolutely wrecked a generation You want to talk about capital gains tax on the homeowner class? Nah, let’s just pretend that’s not a thing. Oh, and a prime minister says the United States might try to annex us? Where’s the civil defence force? Who is protecting our sovereignty? If you think our military is capable of that, you are wrong. I could keep going, but what’s the point? Many will say I can’t complain Some will suggest I get involved. No, thank you. On top of my irrelevant university degree, I spent over two

young in every region. The massive Liberal debt build up will not be paid for a generation. Health care we had will be a distant memory for our children Carney wants to borrow more If this continues, we strip our children of their future

Mr Carney and the Liberal plan reinforces the status quo, stifles our resource sector, borrows more, spends more, taxes more, and increases the debt our children and grandchildren will have to pay. It means a rising cost of living and stagnant paycheques It damages Canada’s economic future and divides our country. Their policies undermine Canada as one country. Policies that divide hold Canada back Forget Trump! Vote for Canada Vote for its future Vote for the next generation and for a Canada ready to take on the future, independent and free to pursue Canadian dreams

Gordon Campbell was the premier of B.C. from 2001 to 2011 and leader of the BC Liberal party from 1993 to 2011.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Who do you think will win the West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast— Sea to Sky Country riding?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

Have you changed your mind on who you support for MP during the course of the campaign so far? (Top 3)

MOST READ STORY

Squamish driver faces stunt driving charge in Ontario

decades in government as an Infantry soldier and special forces operator I’ve seen enough to know that you can’t fix a broken system unless people are calling it out for what it is Brené Brown says it best: “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real The choice to be honest.” I choose to call out this election as dishonest.

So, at this point, let’s put everything into education. If we want democracy to actually work, we need to make sure people aren’t set up to fail Teachers? Yeah, they’re the real MVPs here If we don’t start paying attention to them, we’re just one step away from becoming a full-blown ideocracy like our neighbours to the south.

Logan Spiegel Squamish

TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK

This week,Indigo LemayConway checked out the new adaptive Alice Lake trail. Check out this video and many more @squamishchief

The Squamish Chief welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words. Letters should be exclusive to this publication and are

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

NEWSBRIEF

WALMARTTOBECOME SUPERCENTRE

The District of Squamish has adoptedthe rezoning applicationtoturnthe Squamish Walmartintoa supercentre.

At thegeneral councilmeeting on April15, theapplication was adoptedalmostunanimously, with only Coun.Chris Pettingill opposing themotion

“I didnot supportthiswhenit came throughearlier.Asthe FortisBC pipeline hasbecome more certain, ourresponsibility is managing thelandplanning andthe risk that goes with that,” Pettingill said.

“I don’t have yetthe information to know that increasing the densityhereisanacceptable level, andso, withoutthat, Idon’t find myself comfortable supporting this.”

Thedecisionwas approved 3-1, with councillorsLauren Greenlaw,AndrewHamilton and Eric Andersen absent from the meeting.

Therezoningapplication was givenits firstthree readings at theNov.19regular council

meeting.

District plannerPhilipGibbins provided some background information during that meeting as to whyWalmart hasbeen prohibited from sellingthings such as freshfruit,vegetables andmeatsince openingin2006

“The original rezoning allowed forlarge-formatretailinthe business park.However,itplaced restrictions on thesaleof perishable andnon-perishable food itemstolimit food retail within thebusinessparkto reducecompetition forgrocery stores downtown,” Gibbinssaid.

“Thisallowed Walmartto operatetheir standard format at thetime, andaspartofthe rezoning,there wasanagreement with Walmartnot to apply forrezoningfor at leastfive years.”

Theadoptedrezoning amendmentwillremovethe site-specificrestrictionsonthe sale of perishable andnon-perishablefooditems

Moving ahead, District staff willissue theassociated developmentpermittocontinue with theproject

PHOTOCOURTESYOFEBONY ROBERTS

WELL PLAYED: TheSquamishwomen’s hockey team,SquamishWild, recently returned from atournamentin Powell River. Whiletheydidn’tbring home thechampionship, they didwin Most SportsmanlikeTeam. “We’re proudofthe heart, hustle,and humour we broughtto everygame,”saidthe team’s EbonyRoberts

WORKER’SMEMORIAL DAYOFMOURNING

In memory of those who have lost their livesasa result of aworkplace accident or occupational disease

DAYOFMOURNINGFOR WORKERS INJURED 0R KILLED ON THEJOB

Please join the Squamish &District Labour Committee

Sunday,April27that11:00 am Worker’s Memorial Monument, O’Siem Park, Downtown Squamish

Together we will remember workers whohavelost theirlives andcommit to fight forsafeworkplaces forall. Everyone WelcomeFor Info:604-898-1559

Please Contact theSPCA for more details! Visit ourwebsite: spca.bc.ca

Meet Thunder and Lightning

This is Thunder andLightninga bonded pair of brothers. Theyare affectionate, easy going and love people.They arecat friendly, but we arenot sure aboutdogs.Thunderhas thelong fur andlighteningisshort haired. Therefavorite past times are looking outa window together and makinghumanshappy

These boys will melt your heart.

LOCAL VOLUNTEER RELISHES RACE DAY

Long-time community volunteer Lois Lemieux has won The Squamish Chief Reader’s Choice Award for two years in a row

WILL JOHNSON news@squamishchief.com

You can’t slow this woman down

Ever since Lois Lemieux moved to Squamish in 1990, she has become a familiar face to triathletes and cross-country skiers alike, making a name for herself as a bubbly personality who is always happy to volunteer with any sort of race

And now she’s been chosen two years running for The Squamish Chief’s Reader’s Choice Award for volunteer of the year, an honour that has left the 66-year-old gobsmacked.

“I’ve raced so many races myself, and I’m always grateful for all the people cheering me on, so really I’m just paying back,” Lemieux said.

“I was shocked to get the award, and then to get it twice? It was awesome news.”

Lemieux made the choice to move to Squamish three decades ago because of her passion for the outdoors. Living in Vancouver and working at a bank, she found herself drawn every weekend to the wilds up the Sea to Sky. When she realized she could buy a house, she made what she considers the best choice of her life and purchased one, kicking off a geographical love affair that has lasted to this day.

“I’ve been here in Squamish a long time, and I’ve seen it grow. To be honest, I preferred when it wasn’t so big because the traffic is so crazy right now, but I can still go out and be by myself in the mountains.”

Physical activity is equally important to her, which is why she reserves time every single day for some sort of movement—even a half-hour walk around the neighbourhood, but more often something ambitious like a solo hike or a trail run.

She now competes on dragon boat teams, and has travelled to the Philippines and Malaysia with her teams. She regularly plunges under the surface of Howe Sound, and loves water sports of all kinds.

Besides volunteering for races, Lemieux also lends her efforts to philanthropic endeavours Recently, she participated in the Coldest Night of the Year, a walking fundraiser for Squamish Helping Hands, and was buoyed by the showing of community spirit

“The older generation were there, but now there are so many new faces, and they’re getting into all these sports, so it’s good to see them out there racing, and cheering them on.”

Lemieux retired temporarily from the bank, and since then has held multiple positions with the Sea to Sky Gondola, including lift host She relishes the social contact she gets from being out and being involved in events such as a triathlon.

“It’s really interesting because when you do a triathlon you just go and do it, but when you volunteer you realize how much work goes into it and how important all the volunteers are,” she said.

“People are always struggling to find good volunteers, but it’s the best way to get into the community, make friends, and cheer on the locals. I just love it.”

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Lois Lemieux at the Oliver Triathlon. She participates in races, so knows how important volunteers are to each event.

Online volunteering: opportunities from home

National Volunteer Week (NVW), celebrated from April 27 to May 3, recognizes the invaluable contributions of volunteers across Canada Did you know that one of the most accessible ways to contribute is through online volunteering? This flexible option allows you to choose an organization that aligns with your values, whether it be within your local community, across the country or even internationally—all without leaving your home.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Answer a crisis line

This role involves providing emotional support to individuals during challenging moments. Canadian organizations like Suicide Stop and Kids Help Phone provide training and the chance to volunteer from home,

allowing you to assist via phone calls, virtual chat or text messaging.

2. Offer specialized services for free

Do you possess specific skills or expertise? Consider offering your services to a non-profit organization For example, if you own a software company, you might provide your skills to charities that would benefit from improved technological solutions.

Additionally, organizations like Translators Without Borders allow translators to offer their services pro bono to help humanitarian causes. These types of contributions often require minimal time and energy while delivering significant benefits to the community.

Discover more options and get started with online volunteering by visiting volunteer.ca/ virtual-volunteeringopportunities.

3. Try a volunteering app or website In today’s digital age, numerous volunteering apps and websites connect individuals with cause-specific opportunities. For instance, the app Be My Eyes connects individuals needing visual assistance with volunteers through live video calls.

Together we have planned 160 trips and driven over 21,000 kilometerssofar this year!

Thanks also to our communitydonors, and in particular to The Cutters Barber Shop and

whose contributions provide support for the Program.

Ifyou areinterested in joining our team, please contact us at

How volunteering can keep seniors active and engaged

Volunteering is a great way for seniors to stay active and engaged with their community. It can also provide physical, mental and social benefits

Physical benefits

Many volunteer opportunities involve physical activity, such as serving meals at a soup kitchen, walking dogs, or gardening at a community park This can help seniors maintain their physical fitness and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Mental benefits

Volunteering can help keep seniors mentally active and engaged. It can provide them with a sense of purpose and meaning, reducing feelings of isolation

and loneliness Volunteering can also help improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of developing dementia

Social benefits

Volunteering is a great way for seniors to meet new people and socialize with others It can help them build friendships and feel connected to their community Volunteering can also help to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

How to get involved

If you’re a senior looking for a way to get involved, there are a few resources that can help you find opportunities:

• The Squamish Volunteer Centre Society, which operates the Squamish Welcome Centre

Employee Health &Wellness Planavailable

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR – Minimum 5years or 5,000 hoursoperating experience on excavator. Full-time, Monday –Friday.$33-$42 perhour.

HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC – Commercial Truck &Transport, Transport Trailer, Class 1or3air brakes preferred. 4x10 or 5x8 schedule. Red Sealcertified receive $200/month tool allowance. $39.70- $47.90 per hour.5%premiumonhourly wage for Lead Hand position.

CONSTRUCTION LABOURER – Great opportunity to learn on-the-job.Stamina for physically demanding work and perseverance to brave inclement weather required Previous experience preferred but not required.Training provided. $25-$32per hour

HYDROVAC OPERATOR – Valid Class 1orClass 3with air brakes required. Manualtransmission. 2 years experience preferred. $35-$40.45 perhour.

Breaking News

PIPE LAYER –Minimum 5years experienceincivil construction. Full-time, Monday –Friday.$33-$42 per hour.

TRUCK DRIVER –BCDL Class 1orClass 3with air brakes required.Manual transmission. 2years experience preferred. $32-$40.45 per hour.

“____ Old House”

Untidy condition

Forwhat worth

Kind of exam

Higher than

City auto

Cease

your request

shrubs 25. Dancer’sjump

Winesap,e.g.

41.Mediocre: hyph.

42. Literarycomposition

44. Promos

46.Small earthquake

50 Restrict

52.Uptothe task

55. Volcanic flow

56. Appear onstage

57.Glide aloft

58. Separatearticle

59.Wordofpermission

60. Goldie_ of films

61.Animal shelters

1. Walked 2. Possess 3. Chills

4. Done in installments 5. Slogan

6.Historical epoch

7. Jazzinstrument, forshort

8. Undergarment

9. Grow larger

10.Aswell

11. Porker’spen

19.Icy rain

21. Forest animal

23. Heroic stories

24.Posed

26.Likesome wine

27.Church furniture

28. Fills with wonder

29.Game on horseback

30.Farmlaborers

32. Fragrant wood

35. Falsehood

38. Grass-coveredground

40.Facial feature

43. Rigid

45. Softbelt

47.Chessterm

48. Kitchen cooker

49.Flock papas

50._ leaf

51.Maven

53. Feathered neckwear

54. Decree

Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling

LASTWEEK’S ANSWERS:

HOROSCOPE

ARIES March 21-April 19

You’ll purchase some new pieces for yoursummer wardrobe,whether by shoppingonline or in-store. Letyourfriends guide yourchoices,evenifthey encourageyou to exceed your budget.Bewareofmaking inappropriate comments.

TAURUS April20-May20

You’llgivelifetoinnovative ideasandpromisinginitiatives thisweek.You’lluniteagroup aroundanambitiousproject andovercomeyourfinancial concerns.

GEMINI May21-June 20

You’llfeelparticularlydrawn towellnessresortsandspas thisweek,relishingtherelaxing servicestheyoffer.It’sessential foryoutotaketimetorestand recharge.

CANCER June 21-July 22

You’llworkonalargescaleprojectwithahighperformanceteam.Every phasewillbecompleted efficiently,andyou’llbe delightedbytheresults.The calmnessofyourhomewillbe awelcomeretreat.

SUDOKU

LEO July 23-Aug.22

Youmustcarefullymanage bothyourpersonaland professionallife.Alotof responsibilityrestsonyour shoulders.Asurprising revelationaboutyourcareer couldcatchyouoffguard.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

You’llspontaneouslyembark onajourneyortakeashort getaway.Ifyourtripisfor spiritualreasons,consider takingapilgrimageforan extraordinaryexperience

LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22

It’stimetoembracebig changesinyourlife.You’re boredbythemonotonyand repetitivenessofeveryday routine.Youdesperately wanttotransformyourlife withpassionateandexciting experiences

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Keepingeveryonehappy isahardtask,butyou’ll miraculouslymakeithappen. Atwork,you’llsuccessfully completeaprojector finalizeanagreementthat waspreviouslythought unachievable

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21

You’llhavetohandle numerousemergenciesat workandelsewhere.You’ll harnessyourinnerstrength tobringclaritytothechaos Yourempathetic,caringand nuancedapproachwillmake asignificantdifferenceinhow youhandlethesituation.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Aftertoughnegotiations,you’ll besurprisedtofindyourself inapositionofrecognition. Unexpectedfamily circumstancescouldleaveyou feelingconfused.You’llhave nochoicebuttotakematters intoyourownhands

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18

Ifyouryoungchildreninvite theirfriendsover,it’shighly likelythatyou’llneedtodoa bigclean-upaftertheyleave Youmayalsohavetoreplaceor repairsomeappliances

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

Indulgeyourselfalittlethis week!Youmightreconnect withlong-lostfriendsandhave anamazingtimereminiscing andtalkingforhoursonend.

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