April 2, 2026

PAGE 12

VW BUG HANGING ON ROCKFACE?

Did you spot the red car with the big ‘E’ on its roof?

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026

ROCK CLIMBING BRINGS IN MILLIONS.

WHERE’S THE

INVESTMENT?

A new SAS report values Squamish’s climbing economy at $25.4M. But van dwellers, parking shortages and a lack of toilets reveal a gap between the numbers and the reality on the ground

LIZ MCDONALD

emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

Anew report commissioned by Squamish Access Society (SAS) found rock climbers contributed $25.4 million to the community in 2025

The report, developed by Larose Research & Strategy, claims that visiting climbers brought $21.1 million, with residents adding

CLIMBING: Continued on 2

PAGE 4

QUESTIONS ABOUT QUEST LEGACY

MLA, mayor and former students call for investigation of financial history of university

$4.3 million locally. As the population of resident climbers and tourists grow, questions remain about a lack of resources directed to this demographic of economic drivers.

Issues raised in the report by survey participants include parking and land management, garbage and human waste, climber safety and etiquette, van camping regulations, and route development and climbing’s impact on wildlife and the environment

“I think the report will give climbing a clear data-backed voice and conversations about land use and infrastructure in Squamish, it’ll help us move from anecdotal discussions to evidence-based ones, which is going to be really important as the community continues to grow,” said SAS member Kinley Aitken.

“The scale wasn’t totally surprising. Everybody who climbs knows what a big destination Squamish is, but the data really hits home how globally significant it is The high percentage of international visitors shows it isn’t just a regional resource.”

The report showed that 6% of visiting climbers are international, and nearly 24% come from the United States

Aitken also mentioned factors like the length of stay, a positive impression of the town by visiting climbers, and the overall number of climbing options are salient to discussions around infrastructure

“It really highlights the importance of infrastructure needs as demand continues to grow,” she said

Peter Larose, principal researcher involved in the study, says putting time and effort into studies like this helps quantify the evidence and advocate to policymakers.

“A lot of other sectors do it, mining and forestry and oil and gas, they conduct this kind of research all the time,” Larose said. “Real estate groups, developers, they all have the advantage of all of this kind of research and the benefit of all the numbers and the

data to substantiate the value and importance of their activities and their sectors. And as a result, I think governments and largely residents understand that, and we haven’t really told that story yet through numbers for the outdoor recreation economy.”

GAP IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CLIMBERS

Eli Dannenbaum has lived in Squamish during the summer for the past four years. While he’s drawn to many adventure sports, what called to him most was the feeling of rock underneath his fingertips.

“I’m here to touch rock,” he said. Each summer, he lives in his van, and during the rainy season, he either heads south or rents a room for a month or two. He chooses this option because of the cost of living in Squamish.

“Rent here is just obscenely expensive. A couple of months’ rent here can buy me the van that I live in, and have been living in for three years. The amount of money I save lets me do other things, like buying gear and saving for the future, potentially buying land,” he said

Squamish’s vacancy rate is near zero, and according to Zillow, rent in Squamish is 60% higher than the national average.

Ideally, he says Squamish would have different bylaws or solutions to park a vehicle for a longer term As it stands, Squamish’s bylaws do not permit overnight camping in a vehicle, though many people do it anyway, and a vehicle parked on the street longer than three days can be towed.

“I can’t put myself in other people’s shoes, but I’d like definitely think having something to park that, just has like a covered area because it rains all the time, would be really, really lovely,” he said.

bonds formed over bags of Sour Patch Kids as they’re passed around

“Often people just like hanging out, cooking…creating a really good climbing sense of community that I think a lot of people come to visit and enjoy, and then they go sleep in other places, but they just show up there to make breakfast and build community together.”

WHERE DO SOLUTIONS EXIST?

Bishop, California, has a range of camping choices, from bare-bones five-buck options to more bougie* spots with laundry and hot showers (*what equates to bougie for climbers may differ from other demographics).

Joe’s Valley in Utah also faced issues similar to Squamish’s, including soil erosion and human waste, and in 2013 stakeholders banded together to create a multi-agency response, bringing local and state government officials to the table. Solutions included public toilets and coin-operated showers. Joe’s is in Orangeville, a minuscule coal town with a population of 1,224 residents as of 2020 In 2024, the Vehicle Residents of Squamish Advocacy Group presented solutions to council that other communities have used However, Aitken says it isn’t always so simple to manage the growth “Squamish is a really hard place to manage world-class climbing as a resource And you know, we’re not remote, like other climbing areas in the world. We’re directly next to a major city And we’re also…growing rapidly as [a] town And land is expensive, there are competing priorities for how space is used, and not every resident sees tourism the same way,” she said.

BC PARKS HEARS THE PRESSURE

It really highlights the importance of infrastructure needs as demand continues to grow.

KINLEY AITKEN

This would facilitate the sense of community that he sees during summer months in places like the Stawamus Chief parking lot. Cookstoves are pulled out of the back of vans, camp chairs unfurled, and deep

The province says it hears the pressure. In an emailed response, the Ministry of Environment and Parks said they’ve invested approximately $700,000 to expand the Stawamus Chief parking lot with 37 new stalls On low-cost vehicle camping, the ministry

pointed to the province’s 1,900 recreation sites province-wide as existing options, and confirmed that free parking in BC Parks in the region will continue

The ministry is evaluating results of a 2025 visitor-use monitoring study at the Shannon Basin, which examined crowding at shared areas including the Stawamus Chief parking lot It has also secured funding through the BC Parks Foundation’s Sea to Sky Legacy Fund for an additional toilet in the Slhanay area

Mayor Armand Hurford said the report fits into a broader picture, one that includes a Tourism Squamish impact study and companion resident sentiment study published around the same time “I think that each of our sports that Squamish is world-renowned for comes with its own unique challenges and benefits to the community,” he said. “These are just such strong advocacy pieces that will feed into the puzzle as council continues to find ways to balance all the competing priorities.”

Hurford said a long-standing gap in provincial tourism investment, which favours marketing over physical infrastructure, cuts across many recreation sectors, not just climbing CLIMBING: Continued from 1

l your news

Email your news tip or story idea to: jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

RESIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS OVER BC HOUSING TREE CLEARING

Neighbours say removing a forest buffer triggered flooding, displaced wildlife and stripped the area of climate resilience. The District and BC Housing say the clearing was unavoidable

LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

Residents near a new BC Housing project are speaking out about what they describe as unnecessary clear-cutting of a forest and about concerns about flooding caused by the work.

On March 20, excavator operators removed the forest at 39990 Government Road, where a new BC Housing supportive project is slated for construction When complete, the project will see 60 to 65 supportive homes operated by Squamish Helping Hands Society. In the days before clearing, an atmospheric river barrelled down on Squamish, bringing 150mm of rain in two days

Cal Hartnell has lived in a mobile home at 39884 Government Road, the parcel adjacent to the new housing project, for almost two years. He claims that after the trees were removed, floodwater moved into the park

“We had that atmospheric river, and the water has, over the past, never puddled like it did after they started removing the trees from the land behind where my mobile home is. So it appears that the removal of the trees has an impact on how much the water accumulates,” he said. In response to questions posed by The Squamish Chief, the District of Squamish, which owns the land and provided it for the project, said in an email that they were monitoring areas likely to flood in Squamish, and that the mobile park where Cal lives flooded late last year

“Similar flooding was observed on this site in December 2025, and we can confirm that site grades and the direction of any runoff has not changed. An engineered Erosion and Sediment Control plan was submitted and approved for the scope of work (cutting of trees) and allowed the project to manage the mitigation measures prescribed in response to changing and/or extreme conditions accordingly,” they wrote.

BC Housing also pointed to the issue occurring in 2025 and highlighted that they left tree stumps and did not disturb any soil.

“The tree-cutting work has not involved soil disturbance and should not be contributing to any increase in flood risks,” BC Housing wrote in an email.

“We always strive to be good neighbours and take concerns about potential local impact related to project development very seriously.”

Hartnell wants to see proper drainage to prevent this from happening again.

“There’s nowhere for it to go Maybe we [have] to put in some form of a pump system to get it to a proper drainage area.”

The District noted that plans exist for future improvements for flood prevention at the site, including the redirection of runoff to the District’s stormwater system, and that the project meets all District bylaw requirements.

LAND PRONE TO FLOODING

The area cleared for this housing development is prone to flooding The architect for the design, Collin Truong, principal architect at Integra Architecture, spoke to this concern at a district advisory design panel in late 2025

“A flood hazard assessment report was required and completed,” Truong said at the time, noting the development has been designed to maintain flood conveyance (how quickly and efficiently a river or ditch can drain water away) capacity and avoid increasing flood risk to adjacent or upstream properties

Concerns over a lack of drainage, tree buffers and green space were raised by residents during the consultation phase, according to a communications and engagement report issued to the District by BC Housing in October, 2025. Feedback on the project included “requests for green space, tree buffers, and proper drainage.” In the document, BC Housing said it “commits to considering community feedback and [evaluating] options … as they continue to refine the site design.”

The Squamish Chief has requested the Flood Hazard Assessment and stormwater or drainage reports for the project from the District of Squamish They did not provide the requested documents.

‘IT FEELS LIKE A CLEAR-CUT’

Minna Koskela-Wild lives in a townhouse across from the project, and she questions the need to remove all green buffers completely.

“How the trees have been removed has been shocking, and just knowing the benefits of trees and forests,” she said. “I feel the irony that the Squamish District is looking at a tree canopy survey for downtown and has received funding for that However, it feels and looks like a clear-cut across from us This is Squamish District land, and I do feel like it has completely changed the landscape and the feel of this

TREES: Continued on 5

Find greatworkopportunities from different industries. Thursday, April 9th, 2026. 10 am -1 pm FREE event

BrennanPark- AuditoriumGym 1009 Centennial Way, Squamish

PHOTO LIZ MCDONALD/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

The cleared site at 39990 Government Road March 27, where a BC Housing supportive housing project is slated for construction Neighbours say the removal of the forest buffer has worsened flooding and changed the character of the neighbourhood.

IN WAKE OF MERGER TALK, QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE QUEST UNIVERSITY LEGACY

MLA, mayor of Squamish and alumni ask for investigation; Quest and Columbia College officials say they are looking ahead to a bright future

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

Jeremy Valeriote and some alumni of Quest University Canada are raising concerns about the recent merger announcement by the formerly Squamish-based post-secondary school and Columbia College.

On March 5, the two non-profit schools announced they were joining forces to create a new university based in Vancouver.

Should the initiative get the approval of the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, the new university, under a new name, would offer a bachelor of arts and sciences degree, two associate degrees— associate of arts and associate of science—and specialized programs in allied health

Valeriote rose in the legislative chamber on March 12, during question period, to raise questions around Quest’s path to this proposed merger.

“When Quest University in Squamish went bankrupt in 2020, it sold its campus to investment firm Primacorp Ventures for $43 million. Four years later, when Quest suspended academic operations, Primacorp sold the campus to the province for $63 million, along with student residences for an additional $55 million, to establish a Capilano University Squamish campus,” Valeriote said, adding that many in the Sea to Sky are grateful for CapU’s presence.

“But this is only after Primacorp carved off 37 acres of endowment land for a private real estate development,” Valeriote continued.

“Independent analysis has revealed these dealings are an elaborate shell game, a web of fraud centred on one of Quest’s original benefactors, diamond oligarch Stewart Blusson. Blusson originally promised a $100-million endowment that never materialized. Quest then relied on high-interest loans disguised as charitable donations from individuals linked to Blusson.

“The [Canada Revenue Agency] has been investigating $400 million in alleged fraudulent donations that led to Quest’s bankruptcy and has revoked the charitable status of a number of entities linked to a founding member of Quest’s board of governors. …Somehow Blusson ended up personally benefiting, becoming the owner of 100 acres of endowment land. This is no longer a private matter confined to the Sea to Sky University Act. It’s a matter of public accountability.”

Speaker Raj Chouhan interrupted Valeriote, ordering him to get to his question, which the MLA did.

“Given the District of Squamish’s financial support for Quest and the province’s purchase of

its campus, this government needs to reassure the public that fraudsters didn’t benefit from public dollars. My question Is the government aware of the allegations against Blusson? Will the attorney general investigate to determine his involvement in a real estate transaction with the province and how he walked away owning part of the university’s endowment land?”

To this, Attorney General Niki Sharma said she would be happy to meet with Valeriote to discuss his concerns

“I’ll take that on notice I’m happy to follow up afterwards,” she said

Valeriote then raised another question related to Quest

“We know that B.C.’s post-secondary institutions are under extreme pressure and that the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education is considering adding another institution to this saturated market by renewing Quest’s degreegranting status, that would then be sold to Columbia College in a reverse takeover that would also transfer Quest’s debt obligations of over $18 million,” he said

“If approved, students at this new institution will pay $2,000 per student per year back to the same sketchy private creditors I just described. Will the Minister of Post-Secondary Education assure us that these students will not have to pay their hard-earned tuition dollars to debts owed to fraudsters and suspend review of a proposal for a new university under the Sea to Sky University Act pending the results of a ministry investigation into Quest’s financial history?”

To this, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Jessie Sunner acknowledged there were conversations around the new school, and said she would continue to converse with Valeriote, but also stressed the limitations of the government to intervene.

“I just want to recognize that Quest University is a private university under the Sea to Sky University Act. The government has little authority to intervene in the actions of an entity under a private act, including providing direction to the university or appointing members. As it’s a private university, the ministry does not provide any kind of operating

funding to this institution. The Degree Authorization Act, under which it is operating, has consent until the end of May of this year,” she said “It is currently undergoing a quality assessment process, which is done by an independent external review of its new organizational structure. Those recommendations will be made to me as minister, and a decision will come in the coming months.”

‘UNRELATED TO THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY’

In response to Valeriote’s call for an investigation, a spokesperson representing Columbia College and Quest University Canada said the attorney general has full authority to investigate any matter within their jurisdiction.

“The issues raised during question period are unrelated to the proposed university,” the spokesperson said.

Asked, given what was said by Valeriote, what steps are being taken to ensure the new institution is insulated from these past legal and financial liabilities, the spokesperson said Quest University “went through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) process in 2020 All liabilities were addressed by the court during those proceedings. No additional action is required for the university.”

‘BRITISH COLUMBIANS DESERVE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR INVESTMENTS WENT’

Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford told The Squamish Chief in an emailed statement that he supports Valeriote’s work to draw attention to the Quest matter

“I support MLA Valeriote’s efforts to have the financial transactions relating to Quest University investigated,” he said. “I would like to commend the investigative work of Vivian Krause, who has been hard at work for many years trying to shed light on what transpired over Quest University’s storied history. It is also worth noting former MLA Ralph Sultan has been calling for action on this matter for a number of years, including during his scathing speech at Quest’s final graduation ceremony British

Columbians deserve to know where their investments went and how things went wrong.”

‘IT’S ABOUT THE PROCESS’

In a letter to Quest alumni shared with The Squamish Chief, the Quest University Canada Alumni Association stated that the Alumni Association shared some of the concerns of Quest University Action Group (QUAG), a group of alumni and faculty who have been researching Quest’s financial history and closure, including unconfirmed descriptions of a royalty payment structure of up to $18.7 million that could allegedly be tied to student new enrolment.

QUAG also questions if the unconfirmed payments are being directed to Primacorp or an affiliated entity

QUAG says they have raised their concerns with the Quest University Canada board of governors, but have not yet received a response

“It’s not necessarily about Columbia,” Quest alumnus Nia McCarthy, who was speaking on her own behalf, told The Squamish Chief.

“It’s about the process and the circumstances that this deal is occurring under.”

She said she and the other alumni who have been researching the issue want the province to stop to investigate fully before approving the merger

“We’re not saying, you know, you have to do one thing or another with this proposal We’re suggesting and strongly, strongly urging, begging, the province to pause this until meaningful investigation is complete to find out whether all of these assets have gone to just and deserving recipients,” she added.

“A lot of people are very passionate about Quest and restarting it From my perspective, this is a matter of financial equity and justice in the province of British Columbia And every taxpayer should be up in arms about this situation.”

Despite the existence of a memorandum of understanding between QUCAA and the Quest University Board, the Alumni Association was not meaningfully consulted or informed during the development of the proposal, McCarthy said The same concern is expressed in the Alumni Association’s letter to alumni

Since Valeriote raised questions in the legislature, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills told The Squamish Chief, questions about the financial viability of the new organization should be directed to the board and administration of Quest University and Columbia College.

“As private post-secondary institutions that do not receive government funding, these organizations are responsible for the financial management of the institutions,” the

QUEST: Continued on 5

FILE PHOTO ANDREW HUGHES/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

The former Quest field

TREES: Continued from 3

neighbourhood,” she said.

Hartnell is also concerned about climate-related issues, like heat domes.

“We have these heat domes that [the trees] used to provide shade for us That’s all gone now, so I just see it’s unfortunate that we have to approach things in this manner.”

Owls and other birds were often heard in the forest behind Hartnell’s home. The District said in an explainer that environmental professionals would ensure no nesting owls were present during the tree removals

QUEST: Continued from 4

spokesperson said, adding all institutions under the Degree Authorization Act are required to undergo a quality assessment process to ensure that they meet the ministry’s standards. This process is overseen by the Degree Quality Assessment Board.

“As part of the process, institutions undergo an organization review to ensure that the institution has the resources and capacity to offer degrees, as well as a review of all degree programs,” the ministry spokesperson said The Degree Quality Assessment Board uses external experts to review and advise on the organization and degree programs when it develops recommendations for the minister

The spokesperson noted that Quest is currently undergoing the review prior to the board making any recommendations.

When revealing the provincial budget on Feb. 17, the province pulled funding for the affordable housing build that would sit adjacent to the supportive housing project. That build would have included 100 affordable homes in a different building on the same parcel. Despite the unknown future of the rest of the parcel, the District said in an FAQ that it needed to clear the entire site to proceed with infrastructure, including underground utilities, a multi-use pathway, parking, and a retaining wall

Koskela-Wild says that, given the opposition to the project from nearby community members, the clear-cut approach seems tone-deaf.

“The external reports are generally not made public, as the board’s recommendations to the minister are based on a combination of the institution’s submissions, external expert advice, and other factors relevant to the review,” the spokesperson said.

‘NOT A REVERSE TAKEOVER’

Asked about the allegation that the merger is a “reverse takeover” designed to transfer $18.7 million in debt obligations to a new entity, the spokesperson for the Quest-Columbia merger said firmly that it is not.

“The formation of the new university is an amalgamation of Columbia College and Quest University. It is not a reverse takeover,” the joint spokesperson said

The spokesperson also disputed the assertion that there’s a royalty payment structure that would see students paying

“I think that this project can potentially change and save lives. I get that. I don’t understand why the District has gone about it the way that they have on District land, and I just don’t feel like they are setting any sort of example for future developments or current developments that are happening,” she said Regarding the removal of trees, BC Housing said the following:

“We have not received any requests from residents of the adjacent mobile home park to halt further tree removal. However, we will continue to work with our development partners and the District of Squamish to pro-actively

approximately $2,000 per year toward transferred Quest debts.

“The premise of that question is incorrect. We are unable to provide details on the arrangement as it is covered under a non-disclosure agreement but what we can confirm is that a negotiated settlement has been reached that will discharge the debt. No student at the new university will pay toward this debt.”

Asked about the alleged lack of consultation with Quest’s Alumni Association, despite existing memorandums of understanding, the spokesperson said that the “board’s fiduciary responsibility is to the long-term well-being, sustainability, and mission of the university.”

The spokesperson added that since the merger announcement of the new university, feedback has been positive

“We have received positive responses from alumni, students and elected officials. We look

identify and address any potential risks associated with work on this site,” BC Housing said.

For their part, the District said they don’t take tree removal lightly, but claim it was unavoidable.

“Removal of mature trees along the property line was necessary to effectively prepare the site for the new development, and new landscaping and trees are proposed at this location,” the District said

In the meantime, the sound of owls that Hartnell once heard throughout the night will no longer be commonplace.

forward to building an institution that is sustainable and that will serve students and this province for generations to come.”

Asked for comment, Stewart Blusson’s representative referred The Squamish Chief to his legal counsel, who did not provide a response by press time.

The Squamish Chief reached out twice by email to the chair of the Quest board, using an email an alumni association member claimed the chair has used for correspondence with them. We received no response.

The Squamish Chief also reached out to Primacorp through its available public contacts—both phone and email—and didn’t receive a response

Disclosure: Reporter Jennifer Thuncher’s son attended Quest University, graduating in 2020 He then worked for a time in the school’s registrar’s office before it ceased operations

‘DON’T LEAVE US WITH THIS CRUEL REGIME’

An Iranian Squamish resident speaks about her role in getting information out of a country under an internet blackout, and her perspective on the war

LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

“It’s been 47 years of persecution,” says Shadi Mir, sitting at a café on the main street of downtown Squamish Mir grew up in Iran, periodically protesting against government corruption, human rights abuses and the suppression of women’s rights She applied for a Canadian work visa in 2018, but the application took three years to process, during which time she relocated to Dubai, unable to live in Iran due to her political views.

She arrived in Canada in 2023, settling in Squamish, where she works in a restaurant and has built a life. But since the escalation of conflict in Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, her Instagram foodie account has become something else entirely. She’s switched from food content to fighting for people inside Iran who have almost no other way to reach the outside world.

A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

Internet blackouts are a deliberate tool of the Iranian government, Mir says People inside the country have found workarounds, using hidden Starlink connections, paid proxies, and peer-to-peer satellite access through applications like Conduit.

“It’s hard, but Iranians find a way,” she said, with a sardonic laugh.

The information that does get through paints a picture that Mir says the outside world has been slow to reckon with She describes a government that has, over decades, deliberately impoverished its population to suppress dissent.

“When I was seven years old, one dollar was seven tomans. Now one dollar is 150,000 tomans. In only 30 years,” she said.

She attributes Iran’s economic collapse not solely to international sanctions, but to the regime’s deliberate isolation.

“They want to make enemies with everyone. They want to make people poor, so no one can stand up Sanctions happen because they threaten other countries.”

‘WE

ARE NOT SCARED OF BOMBS. WE ARE SCARED OF THE REGIME.’

When anti-government protests swept Iran in September 2022, they arose from one death. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in the custody of Iran’s morality police after being arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly Her death unleashed what became known as the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, a widespread revolt against the oppressive nature of the regime.

The crackdown was swift and severe. A United Nations Fact-Finding Mission later concluded that Iranian security forces committed crimes against humanity during the protests, and found evidence that state agents were responsible for the killing of at least 551 protesters, including 49 women and 68 children.

Then, in late December 2025, and in January of

this year, protests started again. A widespread, peaceful protest calling for fundamental changes to government and public life in Iran was spurred by a spiralling economic collapse Amnesty International and The Guardian have reported a brutal response by the government, with police shooting people in the street, and the government shut down access to the internet to prevent information sharing.

Those events, she says, formed the backdrop for how many Iranians now view the current conflict The messages she receives from people inside the country reflect a calculation that may be discordant to many in the West

“I get messages saying, ‘Please tell them, don’t stop this war, don’t leave us with this cruel regime.’ They are really scared. Some say, when they don’t hear the bombs, they’re scared the war is over and they are left with this cruel regime.”

She is also critical of what she describes as a selective moral response from Western progressives. She sees visible protest against the U.S. and Israeli military intervention, but silence during the years of documented state killings

“When you see everyone in the U.S. going out and saying no to war, they didn’t rise up for the people killed by the Iranian government That’s why people inside Iran won’t stop the war, because if they leave us with this cruel regime, we cannot continue living They go through the streets shooting people It’s like gangsters.”

She wants to see the former Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, become the head of Iran

CAUGHT BETWEEN SYSTEMS

Mir’s situation in Canada reflects a gap that immigration advocates say the federal government has failed to address.

She does not qualify for permanent residency under the current points-based Express Entry system, and under Bill C-12, Canada’s newly proposed immigration legislation, which passed into law March 27, she is no longer eligible to make a refugee claim, because she has been in the country for more than one year

The bill bars claimants who entered Canada after June 24, 2020 and waited more than a year to make a refugee claim from accessing a full Immigration and Refugee Board hearing. Instead, they are redirected to a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment—a paper-based process. The rule applies retroactively.

IRCC confirmed in an email to the Squamish Chief that the one-year rule will apply to all persons who make a refugee claim more than one year after first entering Canada after June 24, 2020, including holders of work permits, study permits and visitor visas, the category under which many Iranians, including Mir, are currently in the country.

The department said the rule “isn’t a ban on claiming asylum,” but that claims would not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board. Instead, claimants would be directed to the pre-removal risk assessment process.

“The PRRA process is a thorough and

well-tested safeguard that assesses each person’s situation and prevents the removal of an individual to a country where they would face serious harm, as defined in the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act. Courts have consistently upheld the process as fair and legally sound.”

The government also highlighted that the Canadian Border Service Agency has an administrative deferral of removals (ADR) for Iranians

“An ADR is a temporary measure that can delay a removal order that would normally require a person to leave Canada immediately. However, those who are not allowed in Canada for security reasons or on grounds of criminality, international or human rights violations, or organized crime can still be removed despite the ADR,” the communications official said in an email.

Unlike Ukrainian and Afghan nationals, who were offered special temporary pathways during their respective crises, Iranians in Canada have received no equivalent measure.

The IRCC said the country “stands in solidarity with the Iranian people who deserve to have their freedom and human rights respected,” and pointed to special measures offered by Canada for Iranians already in Canada to extend their work permits. The measures expire in March 2027

“The Government of Canada continues to closely monitor the situation in Iran We can’t speculate on future decisions.”

Mir says she has deliberately avoided putting pressure on Canadian systems. She did not want to apply for refugee status when she first arrived, not wanting to be a burden

“I try my best not to bother anyone,” she said “Even in protests in Vancouver or Toronto, we try to keep calm, be their voice, clean up and go back home I know people on Facebook say if we love our country so much we should go back But if the same thing happened to them, would they say the same thing?”

If conditions in Iran were ever to change, she says, she, like many in the diaspora, would consider visiting or returning home.

“Everyone likes their country. Just not in this situation.”

The Squamish Chief is withholding Mir’s full last name at her request, due to safety concerns for family members remaining in Iran. She has already received threatening messages from individuals she believes are connected to the Iranian government

SQUAMISH BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY

Baha’i Faith

Baha’i Faith

The outlet reached out to The Canadian Council for Refugees to learn more about the impact of immigration policy on Iranians but did not hear back The Squamish Chief will update this story if it receives a response ReconciliationisJustice

International Earth Day

Itisthe Bahá’í belief that the attributes of God arerevealed within every createdthing. “Every time Iturnmygaze to Thineearth,Iammade to recognize theevidences of Thy powerand the tokens of Thybounty. And when Ibeholdthe sea, Ifind that it speaketh to me of Thymajesty,and of the potency of Thy might, and of Thy sovereigntyand Thy grandeur.And at whatevertimeIcontemplatethe mountains, Iamled to discover the ensigns of Thyvictoryand the standards of Thine omnipotence.”–Baha’u’llah Furthermore, we arecharged to learnfromnature and recognize theharmony at play within its diversity

“Consider the world of created beings, how varied and diverse they areinspecies, yet with onesoleorigin. Allthe differences that appear arethose of outwardformand color. This diversity of type is apparent throughout thewholeofnature…Let us look at the beauty in diversity,the beauty of harmony,and learnalesson…”‘Abdu’l-Bahá also writes, “it is notonly their fellowhuman beings that thebeloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must they show forththe utmost loving-kindness to everyliving creature…(and by extension-theearth itself) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Baha’i scriptures teach that, as trustees of theplanet’svastresourcesand biological diversity,humanity must seektoprotect theheritageoffuturegenerations; seein natureareflectionofthe divine; approach theearth,the source of materialbounties, withhumility;temperits actionswithmoderation; andbeguided by thefundamental spiritual truth of ourage,the onenessofhumanity

Happy International Earth Day!

www.squamishbahais.com

SteepSlopes

OpenHouse

We’reseekingfeedback fromthecommunityand thehomebuildersindustry onourdraftguidelinesfor constructiononsteepslopes.

TheDistrict’s proposednew SteepSlopes Development PermitArea(DPA) providesguidance fordevelopmentonsteepterraintosupport publicsafety,reducehazardrisks,protect infrastructure,andminimizevisualimpacts.

Open House

InfrastructureUpgrades

•X̱ wúneḵwPark SeaDike upgrades continue,with intermittentnightworks ongoing.

•Wastewater system upgrades areunderwayalong parts of Madill Street,Garibaldi Avenue,Britannia Avenue and Buckley Avenue,replacing an aging sanitaryforcemain. Please be awarethatsinglelane alternating traffic willbeineffectwhile work takes placefrom7a.m. to 6p.m.

•VictoriaStreet ActiveTransportation Upgrades have resumed.

squamish.ca/building-our-future

Business Opportunities

Request forProposals

•Transit Shelter Design

•Junction Park Building:Feasibility Study &Options Analysis

Request forQuotations

•Annual Road Line Painting

•MountGaribaldi CemeteryExpansion Phase 2

Request forSupplier Qualifications

•Paradise Valley Bailey Bridge AbutmentConstruction squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

HolidayHours

Friday, April3and Monday, April

Fire Rescue Foremergencies: 911

Easter Activities

at Brennan Park Recreation Centre

April 3and April 6

Public Swim: 9 am–3 pm

Lane Swim: 9 am–3 pm

Parent and Child Hockey

9:30–10:30 am 10:45–11:45 am

Public Skate:12–3 pm

April 6Only

HolidayLittle Sneakers 10:30–11:30 am

Askour staff about howto participate in afun Easter-themed scavenger huntchallenge around the facilityonEaster Monday!

Join ourTeam!

We arecurrently looking to hire enthusiastic and energetic individuals to become partofthe District’srecreation team as programleaders for the upcoming summer season. This is agreat opportunityfor those who enjoyworking in afun environment. Multiple positionsavailable. squamish.ca/careers

Sign up forRecreationeNews squamish.ca/enews Check out the arena andpool schedules!

Summer Programs

Online: April7

Registration: April14

FROM ZAMBIA TO SQUAMISH: ELECTED WOMEN SHARE LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

Four elected officials from Zambia travelled to Squamish and Edmonton as part of a Federation of Canadian Municipalities program aimed at raising women in local government

LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

Adelegation of Zambian politicians recently journeyed to Squamish, B.C., and Edmonton, Alta., as part of a program offered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

The program, Partnerships for Municipal Innovation—Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL), is funded by Global Affairs Canada and runs for six years, from 2021 to 2027

Over four years, five countries have taken part in colleague-to-colleague collaboration aimed at elevating women in leadership and enhancing inclusive governance. The FCM’s rationale is this: local governments’ services have a deep impact on people, whether through access to sanitation, health care, public safety, water or education. Barriers exist to women’s equitable access to those services, so women need a seat at the table to develop policies that directly affect them—thereby making policy more effective for more people

While delegates from Squamish have previously travelled to Zambia for the program, this marked the first time elected Zambian participants arrived in the Coast Mountains.

THE DELEGATES

Four elected officials travelled north of the 49th parallel: councillors Gift Chola Nachizya from Nakonde and Margaret Chisenga from Chifunabuli, and council chairpersons Charles Mwansa Mulenga from Chifunabuli and Buumba Malambo from Kafue.

Six Squamish District staff and council members have previously travelled to Zambia as part of the exchange, spanning elected and administrative roles: Coun. Jenna Stoner, CAO Linda Glenday, GM of Community Services Megan Latimer, director of communications Christina Moore, communications manager Rachel Boguski and senior HR adviser Adriana Hume

FROM CHIFUNABULI: MARGARET CHALWE CHISENGA

Chisenga is a councillor from the district of Chifunabuli, a remote community in northeastern Zambia, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her district was established eight years ago.

She says she was inspired by other women in politics to run for office

“I was inspired by female leaders in big cities, where I saw a lot of females getting into politics and working, whilst we in the villages, it was male-dominated. So I took a stand to try, and luckily, people elected and voted for me.”

Like Canada, Zambia has political parties that candidates join before running for office. Chisenga joined the Patriotic Front and has served two terms as councillor, first coming to office in 2016 and being re-elected in 2021

Among her successes, she has lobbied for a skills training centre to enhance opportunities for youth. Chifunabuli is a lake town with an economy centred on fishing, and youth often graduate to work in aquaculture. But Chisenga sees education as the most important driver of opportunity in her community, because it can diversify livelihoods.

“So with the help of FCM, we’ve brought a skills training center Previously, our youths, when they completed secondary school, they never…had anything to do in the villages,” she said

“Instead, they would opt to go to fishing camps or maybe engage in illicit behaviours So the FCM had to come on board, and now we are building a skills training centre where our youths, when they complete their secondary education, they’ll be able to go to college to get some skills for their livelihood and income.”

Before running for office, Chisenga studied community development and worked for Child Fund, a non-governmental organization focused on enhancing well-being for children and families through education, health care, skills training and anti-violence initiatives.

The trip to Squamish was her first time flying outside Zambia, and she says she came away with a deeper understanding of how governance works in Canada

“I have been enlightened, and I’ve been exposed. I’ve learned a lot of things, especially in the waste management system Also, it is an exchange visit, so we came to learn how our colleagues here handle issues in their councils, and learned a lot of things, which I’ll go and share when I go back home.”

She added that the most significant difference between the two countries’ governments comes down to budget and resources.

FROM NAKONDE: GIFT

CHOLA NACHIZYA

Nachizya is a councillor from Nakonde, in the northwestern part of Zambia near the border with Tanzania. She has led a community of 85,000 people for five years.

Much like Chisenga, she entered politics to

ensure women have representation.

“There are so many men that are involved in politics, and we have no woman to speak on our behalf, and there are a lot of things that we need as women–clean drinking water, the medical facilities,” she said “Even maternity-wise, when you go to deliver, some women were dying…so that’s why I had to run and just make the voice of women be heard.”

During her time in office, Nachizya has helped push for infrastructure development of bridges, schools and maternity wards. The Zambian government has also focused on providing grants for women’s clubs and free education for youth.

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS

One of the biggest changes Nachizya pointed to came from within the Zambian government itself. In 2025, Zambia’s president, Hakainde Hichilema, changed the constitution to expand parliament, increasing the number of seats and reserving some for women, youth and people with disabilities The president can also appoint more members to parliament than was previously allowed. As reported by Reuters, the move was contentious—critics within the country say it could result in further consolidation of power by the ruling party.

INSPIRED BY OTHER WOMEN

Growing up, Nachizya was inspired by Edith Nawakwi, Zambia’s first finance minister

“[When] I was growing up, I would see her speaking in Parliament She’s on TV And then how did she get there? Until one day, I found myself doing what she did,” Nachizya said

The trip to Canada was her first time outside Africa, and her first encounter with ice and snow Beyond the novelties of a different climate, Nachizya is also returning home with a new understanding of how to fundraise for election campaigns. Candidates are typically funded by their political party, but through PMI-WILL, she and other women began a fundraising campaign by making and selling soap.

“Soap is used for bathing. Soap is used for washing clothes, for washing plates, for cleaning, and just everything. A woman’s lifestyle is surrounded by water and soap … it’s a very important thing.”

She said the fundraising initiative has allowed her and another councillor to encourage 30 other women to participate in upcoming elections in August

As for her experience in Squamish, she says talking with other women showed her the similarities between both cultures “We have similar experiences that we go through as women.”

PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Margaret Chalwe Chisenga

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TheSquamishChief is amemberof theNationalNewsmedia Council, whichisanindependent organization establishedtodealwithacceptable journalisticpractices andethical behaviour. If youhaveconcerns abouteditorial content, please contactEditorJenniferThuncherat jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca.Ifyou arenot satisfiedwiththe response andwishtofilea formal complaint, visitthe websiteatmediacouncil.ca orcalltoll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information

Reproduction of anymaterial containedinthispublicationis expresslyforbiddenwithoutthe prior writtenconsent of thepublisher.

EDITORIAL

TOGETHER IS BETTER

The localLandBackprocess will test allofour strength as acommunity.

Thefearand temptation is forfolks on varioussides of theissue to digin, handsovertheir ears,andbeunwilling to move.

Others maythrow up theirhands andvoteout the councilbehindthe memorandumofunderstanding with Squamish Nation that hasbrought Land Back.

Butthatlikelywon’t putthe horsebackinthe barn.

We arealready seeingdifferent attitudestake shape amonglocalsand electedofficials

Coun.JohnFrenchpositioned himselffirmlyin thefullsteam aheadcampwithhis comments at councilMarch 17,noting themixed reaction the Land Back Task Forcehas received

“Those whoget what we areupto, they trulyget it

Thosewho don’t, in my opinion, aremainlydriven by fear,feelings of superiority, anda belief that there areno historical wrongs to be reconciled.Ifully disagree with that,” he said,inpart.

He spokeabout thereconciliationworkseeming minimalcomparedtothe wrongs perpetrated.

“WhenI think aboutmywhite European ancestors whocamehere, claimedthese landsand introduced thehuman constructthatwecallprivate property, the newcomers to this placethentried to assimilate Sḵwxwú7meshpeopleinto European ways using whatIthink arecruel tactics, andmanypeopleagree with me on that,” he said.

Whilehis sentiments arevalid,ifwehavelearned anything from currentglobalpolarization, it is that when we dismissthe concerns of themany, more extremepolarizationtakes hold.

Some locals have legitimate questionsabout transparencyand thefutureofpubliclandintown that drew many of us here.

Thebest wayforward is foreveryone—non-Indigenousand Indigenous—to come forwardwith trust, assuming thebestofeachother.

Coun.Jenna Stoner struck themostcollaborative tone,notingthatthere is uncertainty,which is uncomfortable. Andshe spoketothe realitythat thereare twowayswecan move forward through meaningfulreconciliation, throughdiplomacy,at thesametable,orinthe courts,oneithersideofit. That last option isn’tgood forany of us

“We areall in this together,and we aretryingto find ourway throughit. Iwould be lyingifIsaidwe allknew theanswers,but …I thinkour council, our staff, ourcommunity—and Ihaveheard this from theSquamishNation—this task forceiscommitted to transparency,to engagement, to research and shared learning;developinga frameworkthatwe canall feel comfortablewithto move us forwardona stronger foundation,because we areall goingtobe here together no matter what.Wecan eitherbattleit outincourt,orwecan buildstrongworking relationshipsandmoveforward together,” shesaid. Amen to that.

$10-A-DAYCHILD CARE SLIPS OUTOFREACH IN B.C.

PROVINCIAL VIEWS ROBSHAW

Stick aforkinit: B.C.’s $10-a-dayuniversal child care promiseisover.

Notofficially, of course.The NDPwon’t publicly declareamarquee plankfromthree election campaignsasdeadinwater

Butafter eightyears,and afreeze in last month’s provincial budget,eventhe biggestbackers of the programare starting to move on to newideas

TheCoalition of ChildCareAdvocates of BC—a drivingforce behind theoriginal$10-a-day proposal tabled anew plan to theDavid Ebyadministrationthis month. Itsmainthrust: pivottoleanintothe existing school system.That’sthe only waytoget outofthe currentrut,according to advocates.Barely10% of licensed child-care spacesare truly$10-a-day,and a universalsystemremains apipedream

The ChildCareExpansion in BC report,pennedby Eric SwansonofconsultingfirmThird SpacePlanning, proposes to putelected school boards in charge of developing thesystem, analyzinglocal needsand directingoperators whowanttobe publicly funded into locationsatornearexistingschoolsites.

School boards wouldtakeupthe mantle from the Ministry of Educationand ChildCare, whichcurrently oversees amarket-driven,unplanned,grant-based system of public andprivate operators.

“Eight yearsintoB.C.’s10-year ChildCareBCplan, thepersistenceofthisunplanned approach has

createdand exacerbatedmajor,systemicproblemsin thechild care sector andfor theprovince,”reads the report, co-commissionedbyEarly Childhood EducatorsofBC.

“Toaddress theseproblems, theprovinceshould nowtransitiontoa school-districtplanned and managedmodel better suited to achievinghighquality, universalchild care,bringingsystemplanning closer to that usedinother core public services.”

Advocates hope to draftbehindthe premier’sstated interest in mergingschools andchild care services together.Eby announcedpilot programs to do that very thingbeforethe 2024 provincial election,but they’vesince failed to expand

Thepitch from Ebyand others hasbeenthat school-based sitesharness publicly ownedproperties andmix them with theinherenteaseofhaving daycare, before-and-after-schoolcareand actual school allinone location

Butitwon’t be cheap. Whichisa problemfor the currentNDP government,given thatitisbroke and running a$13.3-billion deficit.

Currently, thegovernmentisspending$2.9billion over threeyears on childcare, includinga$300million budget increase over thetimetohold thesystem steady.The totalrises to $6.5 billiononcefederal fundingisincluded.

“Weneedtomakesureweare usingthese precious child-care dollarswisely,”Education andChild Care Minister Lisa Bearesaidduringher recent ministry estimatesatthe legislature.

“Wewanttomakesurethatweare supporting as many families as possible with these funds, whichis

CHILDCARE: Continuedon11

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)

Care Advocates of BC

why we’re doing this intentional stabilization year to make sure we’re getting it right.”

The money, around $950 million annually, funds a byzantine system of child care programs that range in fees from full market rate to $10-a-day.

There’s a child-care operating fund, a child-care fee reduction initiative, a child-care wage enhancement program for educators and myriad other paperwork required for annual income-testing of affordable child care benefits as well.

“What they are doing now is incredibly complicated,” said Sharon Gregson, a longtime advocate of $10-a-day who is spokesperson for the Coalition of Child

“Operators are already doing this massive amount of paperwork. If you have a $10-a-day program you are dealing with one funding model.

“Hopefully during this pause [government] will get that right.”

The new plan calls for wage grids (something the province has hesitated on), a “significantly improved $10-a-day operating funding model” and the eventual “transition of all publicly funded programs to this improved $10-aDay model,” alongside pensions and benefit plans for early childhood educators.

There would be professional development days for early childhood educators, a substitute staff pool to cover absences, catchment areas and a standardized wait

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

NO APOLOGY NEEDED

In regards to the recent complaint made by a Squamish resident regarding the municipal cemetery [“District of Squamish apologizes after machinery left on gravesite ahead of burial,”published March 23] did the District of Squamish actually need to apologize for the steps taken by the cemetery staff for ensuring their own safety?

Certainly the complainant may have been initially taken aback at seeing an excavator parked overnight on a family grave, surrounded by heaving matting, and certainly she had a right to ask about it, but what was required from the District staff was only a reasonable explanation, not an apology, since the situation was actually not one of neglect or unconcern for the dead but of care and concern for the living I have some sympathy for the woman who found her beloved brother’s grave covered over, but after the District’s explanation was provided, surely she should have understood that the health and safety of the cemetery workers is far more important than any discomfort she experienced at seeing the excavator situated where it was for that short period of time

The sudden collapse of the soil supporting a grave wall while cemetery staff are working above it can have catastrophic consequences, including death. And since it is my beloved family member who is doing this work in a municipal cemetery (not in Squamish, but

LETTERS POLICY

elsewhere in the currently waterlogged Lower Mainland), in my opinion the District of Squamish should not be apologizing for giving greater priority to the living over the dead.

Shelley Reid - Delta, B.C.

A BIKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON PARKING

This is a letter in response to the article regarding businesses being unhappy about the loss of parking along Eaglewind Blvd to create a safe space for people to bicycle. [“Squamish businesses warn bike lane plan will squeeze parking on Eaglewind Boulevard,” published Feb. 24].

I want to present a view from a long-time bike commuter who basically uses her bike the same way that people use their cars. Indeed car drivers need to find a place to park their car that is not too far from where they are going. I believe that instead of on road parking there is also some parking in The Activity 55 Centre and there will be some in the new building between Eaglewind and Third Ave. For most people, I suspect that a few more minutes of walking should not be a problem. I know if I was driving from Whistler or Chilliwack I would enjoy a few extra minutes to stretch my legs before entering my destination. There definitely needs to be parking close by for physically handicapped patrons for whom walking any distance is a challenge. I believe those spots will still be available. Even though I have been bicycle commuting for over 40 years, I still find it

list system, according to the plan Gregson said the hope is government consults with advocates, parents, operators and school districts, in order to come up with a functional new model.

“They got the last funding model so wrong, they want to make sure they don’t do that again,” she said

Other provinces, like Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario are now far ahead of B.C. on clear, simple, low-cost child-care programs

The new pitch on schools gives government a feasible path forward. It also gives B.C. New Democrats a way to quietly retreat from an election promise they can’t deliver.

Rob Shaw has spent more than 18 years covering B.C. politics.

QUESTION

OF THE WEEK

Do you support the idea of school boards taking over child care/day care programs from the Ministry of Education and Child Care?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

uncomfortable riding in the lane of the traffic. This is because I am going at best 15 km/hr and cars are wanting to go at the least 30 km/hr. This is a huge difference in speed I am 50% slower than a car. Therefore traffic calming (which as far as I know doesn’t exist on Eaglewind Blvd) is not a solution My neighbour told me the other day how he wished that the parking on either side of Eaglewind could always be removed. It is currently removed from Dec. 1 to March 1. So, where do these cars park for three months and is it not possible for them to park in that location year round?

Another type of infrastructure that scares me is a bicycle lane that is beside parked cars. It is impossible to determine if someone is about to open their car door —not a high probability—but one that has happened to me and resulted in two injuries and loss of work for about four to six weeks. I can no longer bicycle near a parked car. Some people bicycling have not survived a car door opening on them

We only have one bike path between the east and west end of Willow Crescent The rest of the infrastructure that bicyclists can use that are not for cars are multi-use paths and the same issue exists between bicyclists and pedestrians as exists between cars and bicyclists Speeds are very different.

I am in full support of creating safe places for people to bicycle. I pray that the design is good (as I have not seen it) and that it does not get changed.

Willa Anderson - Squamish

The Squamish Chief welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words. Letters should be exclusive to this publication and are meant to respond to a local story in The Squamish Chief or raise an issue happening in town Please include your name, neighbourhood and daytime phone number The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for Thursday’s edition. Full names and neighbourhood will be published with the letter The publisher reserves the right to refuse and edit letters for length and clarity or to address legal concerns Email letters to: editor@squamishchief.com

Are you generally supportive of the District of Squamish’s Land Back goals? (Top 3) LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

MOST READ STORY

A hollowed-out VW Beetle with a giant ‘E’ appears on Squamish rock face

DARTS & DAFFODILS

EXTRA BRIGHT DAFFODILS for the person who found my special walking poles in Coho Park and put them where I’d easily find them I’m grateful for this kindness

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.

CHILD CARE: Continued from 10

Issuance of Pesticide UsePermit

NO. 924-0001-26-26

Permit Holder:British Columbia MinistryofAgricultureand Food, 1767 Angus CampbellRoad, Abbotsford,B.C., V3G 2M3Phone:1 866 917-5999

TheMinistryofEnvironmentand Parkshas issued the MinistryofAgriculture and Food apermit on April 1, 2026 to use Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki), commercial formulation Foray48B,toeradicate an establishing spongy moth(Lymantriadispar;formerlyreferredtoasgypsy moth)populationin a121-hectare parcel in Squamish (see map).Btk has been approved forthe controlofspongymothlarvaeinCanadasince 1961.

Theareashown will receiveuptothree aerialapplications between April 15and June30, 2026. Eachtreatment applicationwill take one morning tocomplete, unless interruptedbypoor weather,and will be conducted between sunriseand 7:30 a.m.Treatment datesare weatherdependent and willbeadvertised with lawn and highway signs prior to each application and available on the Spongy Moth website. Acopyofthe permit and map can be viewedonline,at: gov.bc.ca/spongymoth/news

Formoreinformationonthe program and spraydates,please visit gov.bc.ca/spongymoth or contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, toll free at: 1866 917-5999. Multilingual health information is available through HealthLinkBC by calling 811.

A HOLLOWED-OUT VW BEETLE WITH A GIANT ‘E’ APPEARS ON ROCK FACE

A hollowed-out red Volkswagen Beetle, topped with a giant ‘E’ is hanging from the rock face of The Papoose

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

It is a prank that draws attention, to be sure.

There’s a hollowed-out red Volkswagen Beetle with a giant “E” on the roof hanging on the rock face of The Papoose, located south of the Stawamus Chief, visible from Highway 99, near Shannon Falls.

North Vancouver’s Pat Bell got a tip about it early Monday morning, and so got in his car and came up to Squamish to shoot photos and video of it.

While no one has officially claimed responsibility for the stunt, engineering pranks like this have been legendary going back many decades for UBC engineering students, who often use the large E as a symbol

They hung a VW Bug on the UBC Clock Tower in 2014, for example.

Other sites for hanging the car have included the Lions Gate Bridge

Perhaps most famously, in 2001, anonymous engineering students took credit for hanging such a VW off of the Golden Gate Bridge, in California.

While most times these pranks are pulled off without incident, in 2009, the shell of the car fell into Burrard Inlet, and five UBC engineering students were arrested while trying to hang a VW off of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge

Humleen Samra, president of the UBC Engineering Undergraduate Society, denied any knowledge of the prank.

“The UBC Engineering Undergraduate Society has had, and continues to have, no knowledge regarding the planning of, execution of, or persons involved with any stunts past, present, and future,” Samra said

A spokesperson for UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science told The Squamish Chief they are aware of reports regarding a vehicle placed in an area

near Squamish and do not have confirmed information about who may be responsible.

“While student creativity and traditions are valued, the faculty expects all activities to prioritize safety and to avoid any actions that could put people, property or the environment at risk,” said Agnes d’Entremont, associate dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and student success, and professor of teaching, in an emailed statement.

“As this appears to have occurred off campus, we would defer to local authorities for any further details.”

The Ministry of Environment and Parks told The Squamish Chief it understands that this type of activity is a long-standing tradition, but a spokesperson said The Papoose is not an appropriate place for it

“The risk to public safety from this type of activity is a serious matter and it requires BC Parks to divert its team and resources from other pressing matters to address. If the car is not secured properly, it could fall and cause serious harm to others Its removal may also pose a risk to those doing the work to remove it,” a spokesperson said, in an emailed statement.

BC Parks has asked the RCMP and Park Rangers to investigate the matter.

Squamish RCMP say they are investigating.

“Police are working with BC Parks Rangers to see about any safety concerns and that area of the Chief has been closed pending removal and safety concerns There appears to be information circulating online about this being associated to a university ‘prank’ but we have been unable to confirm at this point,” said an RCMP spokesperson.

BC Parks will be taking the lead on the main part of the investigation with assistance from the RCMP.

There could be potential charges of mischief and criminal negligence if any injuries occur to those in the area, or fines under the Park Act.

PHOTOS BY PAT BELL

A VW Bug showed up in Squamish early Monday morning.

FREE WEEKLY POKER NIGHTS DRAW A GROWING CROWD

Squamish player Alison Staveley didn’t arrive at January’s season championship expecting much more than a good day out. Seven hours later, she walked away as the winner—crediting strong hands, steady nerves and years of experience built around the game’s social pull

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

It is just before 6 p.m. on a Thursday night and a small crowd is growing around four poker tables at Squamish’s Tandoori Flame Sports Bar.

Players chat, sip beer, play pool, and wait for the free weekly Texas Hold’em poker game to get underway at 6:30 p.m.

The Squamish chapter of the Full House Poker league is growing, hovering at about 20 players currently.

Dan MacLean started the latest iteration of the local chapter.

He says he got into playing back in 2010, when he moved to the Sea to Sky Corridor from Halifax with a one-way ticket after quitting his job to volunteer for the Winter Olympics.

“I needed friends. And so I found out about this [league] when I was up in Whistler,” he said. He decided to start a Squamish chapter about one year ago.

THE LEAGUE

The league, which hosts games at nine venues in the Greater Vancouver Area, including Pemberton, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley and Vancouver, is run by Paul Fenney

The league itself previously ran for decades, but shut down over COVID-19 The original organizer didn’t pick it back up again, so Fenney and his wife took that task on in 2022

In each of the chapters of the league, players compete for points based on their order of finish every week, throughout the season At the end of each season, the Top 10 players from each of the venues qualify to participate at a tournament for prizes.

The seasons run for four months—January to the end of April, May to the end of August, September to the end of December.

At the tournament on Jan. 15, Squamish’s Alison Staveley was the winner

Staveley started playing poker 20 years ago as a teenager when her roommate taught her.

“I loved the social part of it,” she said, noting at first she was “terrible” at it

She kept playing and got better over time When she moved to Squamish about a decade ago, she kept playing until having kids put it on the backburner

“Then, a few years later, I thought, I miss that I really do enjoy it,” she recalled, noting she likes the camaraderie, the numbers aspect—she’s an

accountant—and reading people.

“I met some of the people here who play here. And I started playing at their home games. And then Dan started this up again.”

She hasn’t looked back

She went into the January tournament not expecting to win.

“I thought it would be a fun experience and that we would all end up in the middle of the pack and go home for the day. But it was one of those days where I had great hands and won quite a lot of it and made it to the final table. And that’s when I relaxed because at that point you are guaranteed cash,” she said

After a seven-hour day of play, she came out the winner of the Full House Poker Season Championship

The next tournament is in May.

“I’m already near the top of the points so I’ll probably get to go again,” she said

The league is still building, with Fenney hoping to have a dozen to 16 pubs signed on by the end of the year.

He encourages anyone the least bit interested to give it a try.

“The league is super inclusive,” he said. “You don’t have to be a poker player. The people here will help you through it. Don’t be intimidated. Come and enjoy the game. It’s a ton of fun.”

Find out more about the league on the Full House Poker website, or stop by on a Thursday and join the Squamish game at Tandoori Flame.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FULL HOUSE POKER

The Full House Poker Squamish Chapter on a recent Thursday, with Alison Staveley in the centre

PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS

THE WOODFIBRE LNG SITE: The Woodfibre LNG site is growing. It is currently about 65% complete, the company says

BritanniaMine Museum gratefully acknowledges their communitysponsors:

CREATE MAKERSPACE LAUNCHES ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY SYMBOLISM

Create Makerspace is encouraging all levels of creatives to co-build festival installations for the summer, whilst paying homage to Indigenous community

INA PACE ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

Public art is enjoyed by all, and now in Squamish, for all to learn and create Software builder and artist Aaron Rosenberg is spearheading the “Create Public Art” initiative, a 10 week program that is underway, held at Create Makerspace (39449 Queens Way) on Friday evenings for both creatives and aspiring creatives.

Up to 40 participants at a time, including kids, have the opportunity to engage in a free speaker series hosted by experienced Squamish artists. First-hand experience in creating public art installations will also be up for grabs through team-building workshops and specific skills classes, for an additional “low-income” fee.

“I’ve made a few art installations here at Create Makerspace, and I wanted to give others in the community the opportunity to learn the skills,” Rosenberg said.

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“Something I’ve heard from so many people who are creative, [is that] they’re looking for an opportunity to connect with others and express themselves, but they don’t know how, they don’t know where, they don’t know when

“‘Create Public Art’ gives people a time, a space, and a structure to come together [Our] mission is to reduce barriers to accessing tools and spaces like this.”

The “Create Public Art” flagship project is the renovation of a decommissioned car, made into the shape of an orca (five metres by three metres), affectionately dubbed the “Orcar.”

Rosenberg explained that the idea behind the “Orcar” is to turn something destructive—car emissions that contribute to the warming of the ocean—into “the creature that is most threatened by that impact.”

“It’s a great way to ask the audience, ‘What is this thing? What does it mean? And how do I not only respond to it, but get inside of it?’”

In incorporating a diverse audience and participation into the program, Rosenberg hopes there may be Indigenous participants among them, especially since the orca is a sacred animal to Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and the fact Nation member and cultural educator Siýámken Matthew Williams is on the Create Makerspace society board.

The Create Makerspace society, alongside Squamish Arts, are funding the program through grants

Festivals are a place where you’re curious, and there’s an opportunity to interact with new and creative ideas.

AARON ROSENBERG

“Our hope is to integrate some Sḵwxwú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language) on the Orcar, and include the Indigenous perspective,” Rosenberg clarified over email.

To Indigenous communities on the west coast, the orca symbolizes family, community, and protection, according to the Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery website. Orcas often stay within their pods for life, and communicate with each other using unique dialects, The Nahanee family of Squamish Nation explained in an online video.

As they are a registered endangered species, the orcas’ health and abundance, like that of salmon, can be an indication that the local community “is doing well.”

The “Create Public Art” installations are intended to be displayed at various B.C. festivals this summer (Bass Coast, Otherworld, and Squamish Arts Festival to name a few) which, Rosenberg explained, are often inspiring places for open-mindedness

“Festivals are a place where you’re curious, and there’s an opportunity to interact with new and creative ideas,” he said

The “Create Public Art” skills classes include CNC (digital) fabrication, woodworking, mapping, welding, pottery, and textiles.

For $150, participants may engage in one skills class and five different workshops; for $450, participants can participate in two skills classes, and have unlimited access to workshops throughout the program.

“Create Public Art” is open for drop-ins and registration on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. More details and dates can be found on the Create Makerspace website.

Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief’s Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter.

This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada

PHOTO BY INA PACE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

“Create Public Art” is open for drop-ins and registration on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

TOURISM SQUAMISH ROLLS OUT RESOURCES FOR VISITORS, AS A ‘FIRST STEP’ IN HIDDEN DISABILITY PROGRAM

Tourism Squamish has launched the first stage of a support program for neurodivergent people, in a bid to make the town more inclusive and accessible

INA PACE

ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

Squamish should always be a safe space; not just from discrimination, but commonplace misunderstandings, which can lead to just that

On March 11, Tourism Squamish launched a double-initiative for visitors exploring the town, who are part of the often misunderstood neurodivergent community—those with hidden or non-apparent disabilities—to make attractions and businesses more inclusive and accessible.

According to Tourism Squamish’s press release, the initiative has been informed by local occupational therapist, Tara-Leigh Cain from Play in Motion.

BECOMING SUNFLOWER-FRIENDLY

One part of Tourism Squamish’s initiative is in officially becoming a “sun-flower friendly” location. Squamish is adopting the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower as a recognized symbol of support.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website explains that green lanyards depicting sunflower symbols are subtle indicators worn by neurodivergent people who choose to spread awareness about their condition or disability in public, with the aim to garner additional support during social interaction.

It is never the expectation for the wearer to be obligated to explain their disability or disabilities

The website defines a hidden disability as “temporary, situational or permanent neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental, as well as physical, visual, or auditory, including sensory and processing difficulties, along with respiratory, rare diseases and chronic conditions.”

To wear a white lanyard with the sunflowers indicates allyship to the neurodivergent community, and in some cases may be worn in the presence of someone neurodivergent who is choosing not to wear one at all.

The sunflower initiative was launched in Gatwick Airport in the U.K. back in 2016, and is now internationally recognized across travel, tourism, transportation, retail, education, health care, and government sectors.

“I’ve been talking about the sunflower initiative for [around] four years. It was a game changer,” Happimess co-owner Dalia Shehata said.

“It’s hard for people with invisible abilities to navigate everything, the barriers are

invisible to everyone else. When you’re in a wheelchair, people can see when you need help, and they come and help

“The fact we’re starting this conversation is so exciting because I can see it spreading It’s just a matter of time I would love to see a sunflower sticker on every public space in Squamish.”

PACKS OF RESOURCES, FOR KIDS

The other part of Tourism Squamish’s initiative is the introduction of Neurodiverse Explorer Packs: backpacks for kids which can be rented for up to two weeks from the Squamish Adventure Centre and Visitor Centre, free of charge

The packs contain various practical resources for kids’ sensory input and self-regulation, such as photos and other visual prompts of various tourist sites, toys such as plushies and fidget spinners, as well as noise-reducing headphones Such resources can aid with sensory sensitivities, typically present in those who have–for example–autism or ADHD.

“Having more information to help parents and their children when they travel is a great benefit; we want to be as welcoming as possible and very accommodating,” Happimess co-owner Marcus Monopoli said. Furthermore, the resource packs may help to create a feeling of safety and familiarity for neurodivergent children who may feel overwhelmed in an unfamiliar environment.

Neurodivergent children often need more time to process information, or may interpret information differently to someone

neurotypical

Such needs are “often overlooked in traditional accessibility planning,” the press release reads. Traditional accessibility planning often relies on physical infrastructure tailored to those with physical disabilities, such as access to ramps.

WORK IN PROGRESS

According to Tourism Squamish’s communications manager Nikki Johnston, the initiative was partially inspired by peers at the North Shore Tourism Association who have launched initiatives for the neurodivergent community with successful uptake

The neurodivergent double-initiative in Squamish has been in the works since the fall, Johnston explained.

“It’s a small gesture that can actually make a big difference,” she said, clarifying that Tourism Squamish’s double-initiative is only the “first step” in creating more programs to make Squamish a more accessible and inclusive place.

“I hope this encourages families who have neurodivergent individuals to feel supported,” Johnston continued.

“My hope is [also] that other visitor-facing

Meet Lyle,

Thesocialdirectorand best friend whoconveys asense of optimism. Lyle hasreallycool markings includingtwo different coloredfront legs anda unique stripe of whitearoundhis all-black tail.

businesses, whether it’s a coffee shop, or a major attraction, will consider becoming a sunflower-friendly location or [that they] tailor their packs to their businesses.”

Johnston also confirmed that Tourism Squamish will be expanding information on their website about what is accessible to different needs.

Clarification is essential in avoiding misunderstandings afterall

The press release notes that Squamish Adventure Centre staff have received relevant training to ensure consistent, respectful, and empathetic interactions

Shehata said that among those offering help and training for this initiative, some have “lived experience” of hidden disabilities, which she regards as “crucial.”

More information about the Neurodiverse Explorer Packs and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower symbol can be found online or by visiting the Squamish Adventure Centre.

Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief’s Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter.

This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada.

Lyle lived with many;manycats, andheis comfortablearoundthem. We arenot sure howhewill be with children, so coming in to meet with himasa wholefamily will be important, that is if Lyle hascaughtyour eye.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOURISM SQUAMISH

Squamish is officially becoming “sunflowerfriendly,” recognizing the Hidden Disabilities

‘LIKE LIVING IN A DREAM’: SQUAMISH FREESTYLE SKIER REFLECTS ON HER FIRST OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE

Squamish freestyle skier Malica Malherbe arrived at the 2025 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics carrying two identities onto the moguls course: a Canadian-trained athlete and a proud representative of South Africa

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

What radiates from Squamish freestyle skier Malica Malherbe is her gratitude for where her sport, her family and her community have taken her.

The 21-year-old competed at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in women’s moguls and dual moguls, representing South Africa her parents’ home country—where much of her extended family still lives. She speaks Afrikaans and used it in media interviews during the Games.

In moguls qualifying, Malherbe improved from 55.85 (25th) to 58.86 (17th)

While she didn’t make it into the finals, she came out ranked 27th She ranked 30th in dual moguls

The Squamish Chief caught up with the humble and soft-spoken elite athlete, who started skiing at four years old, to find out about her Olympic experience and what may be next

What follows is a version of that conversation edited for length and clarity.

The Squamish Chief: Tell me a bit about representing South Africa?

Malica Malherbe: It’s really, really special, first of all, to represent an African country at a Winter Olympics That was really cool My whole family’s still there, and both my parents are very Afrikaans, so to me it’s just really a

privilege just to be able to represent my family I’ve been representing South Africa for a very long time now, so it was all the emotions when I was there, and I went to South Africa right after, and that was really awesome to just be with family afterwards

Q: How did you feel you did overall in terms of the competition?

A: I just feel really good about it Personally, I felt like my performance was the best I’ve ever performed in a competition. To be able to do that at the Olympics is just crazy to me. I’m so glad. The course was very nice. It was beautiful, and I had so much fun, and I think I was just trying to enjoy that experience as much as I could, and enjoy the skiing part of it on its own, and that really helped It all went by so fast, but it was a very cool experience

Q: What were some of the things that people didn’t see about the village, or about the whole experience? What surprised you?

A: The crowds were really cool, and the energy was just really special. Everything was positive I was expecting for it to stress me out a little bit, but it wasn’t like that And I’m not used to being so taken care of, if that makes sense. There’s thousands of volunteers, there’s someone around the corner, everywhere you go, just there if you need help, and that was really cool obviously, you’re at the Olympics, but to be treated so professionally was really special.

Q: It must have been surreal to be there, and great to have both of your parents there?

A: It was really amazing, and I think they themselves had an amazing experience on their own.

And then interacting with the spectators as well, was a very interesting thing. Obviously, I’m standing out because I’m the only one representing South Africa at those events, plus I’m wearing this bright green suit, so everyone knew who I was. I’d be standing in the crowd with my parents, and next thing you know, they’re like, “Oh, can we get a picture with you?” And I am like, “Why me?”

But I think the most special part of the whole experience and most emotional part is after my first qualifying run on my first day, I got to the bottom, and they’re like, “OK, we have a surprise for you.” They put me in front of a screen and then next thing you know, there’s family members, close friends on the screen, live I guess my parents sent out to a group chat, and then anyone can sign on to talk to me live after my run. I just started crying, I was like, “I’m sorry, I can’t say anything!”

That was cool, and then afterwards, going to find my parents in the crowd, I saw them from a distance, and I just started bawling my eyes out again. My dad was in tears, and my mom was in tears. It was a really special moment to share with them.

Q: Were you with other Olympic athletes a lot, like your South African teammates?

A: The Games were spread out between six venues I personally didn’t have any South African teammates with me in Livigno. Because I trained with the Great Britain team, and their coach was my coach at the Games, the volunteers made an exception for me to eat with them and that was very nice, and then all of my friends who were on the Canadian team were also at that same hotel.

Q: It sounds like you had a super healthy attitude, so can you speak to maintaining your mental health?

A: I’ve struggled with it my whole career until now. I don’t know what it feels like to be expected to win gold, so I don’t know the pressure of that completely Honestly, I think it’s kind of a trial-and-error situation. Each athlete has their own ways of dealing with it I know for me over the years, just being around the best mogul skiers in the world and not being as experienced, I’ve always been open to observing what the other athletes do—trying different things, and talking to different athletes asking for advice

Going into this, I thought I just have to do what I need to do The skiing part, I separated completely from the Games. And to be honest, I wasn’t very nervous, as I usually would be It was a very strange feeling, but I just felt so ready, I guess you could say. I was always just trying to think about what I needed to do at that moment. I think as soon as you worry too much about the future, then everything just kind of falls apart.

I’m not 100% there yet. I haven’t figured out my mental health, but I have found ways and things that work for me, and I just think it takes time.

Q: What have you learned from your first experience that you would take into the Olympics?

A: I’m not 100% sure if there will be a next time, however, I now understand why most Olympians go a second time, and I know now what it takes to get to the next one. You’ve done all the work to get there the first time, and it’s an experience, and you take it all in, and you learn from the other athletes, and it’s, like, OK, now I know what more I can add.

Q: What is next for you?

A: Currently, things are going to slow down a little bit. I want to think about studying something, I don’t know what, so I’m upgrading my high school courses. I’m also trying to find a job and make some money, and we’ll go from there. I don’t really know what will happen in the future for me. Who knows, maybe I will decide to continue skiing, but for now, I’m just going to take a break.

PHOTO BY HANNAH PETERS/GHETTY IMAGES VIA MALICA MALHERBE

Malica Malherbe in action at the Games.

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ACROSS

1. Pork product

4. Up to the task

8. Night light

12. Puttogood

13. Harbor sight

14. Salad fish

15. Slippery fish

16. Alternativeword

17.Heed

18. Information

20.Beautician’said

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22.Female deer

24.Printer’sfluid

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DOWN

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YOUR

PLACE OF

6. Meet defeat

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10.Again

11. Shafts of light

19.Embellishments

23. Datedditty

25. “____ SayDie”

26.Informer

27.Woolly mom

28. Skin color

30._ man out

31. Ball holder

32. Putinalawn

36. Packed away

37.Batter cake

40.Dog’sbane

41.Gather acrop

42. Lighten

44. cabinet

46. Foolhardy

47.Throb

48. Adolescent

51.Road bend

Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling

LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:

HOROSCOPE WEEK OF APR 2, 2026 -APR

ARIES March 21-April 19

Don’tsuppressyouremotions; they’llguideyourdecisions.Your friendsandfamilywillbethere foryouandshowcompassion ifyou’regoingthroughatough time.You’llsoonhaveclarity tofindsolutionsandeaseyour worries

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Relationswithcoworkers andacquaintanceswillflow smoothly,unliketheincreased tensionininteractionswith yourlovedones.Friendsand colleagueswillunderstandyou completely.Maintainahealthy distancetoprotectyourselfand avoidunnecessaryconflict.

GEMINI May21-June 20

Paycloseattentiontoasmall professionaldetail.Advancement maybewithinreachifyouclearly defineyourresponsibilitiesand yourrelationshipwithauthority. Theenergyaroundyouwillbe beneficial.Thoughtfulgestures willstrengthenyourposition.

CANCER June 21-July 22

Afriendmightsurpriseyouby revealingtheirromanticfeelings Ifyou’resingle,youcouldfind loveunexpectedly.Asudden influxofmoneyorunexpected compensationcouldhelpease

yourfinancialworries

LEO July 23-Aug.22

Achangeofsceneryisonthe horizon.Despiteyourbusy schedule,yourfamilywillremain yourtoppriority.Anonlinepost willattractpositiveattention, bringingyourecognition

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Youmaybetemptedtomake abigpurchase,perhapsanew car.However,giveitsomecalm considerationtoavoidstraining yourbudgetwitharashdecision Patienceandreasonwillhelp youresistthisfleetingurgefora non-essentialluxury.

LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22

Thisweekwillbeallabout heartfeltconversations Toresolvetensionsand misunderstandings,devotemore timetosincereexchanges.This willhelprestoreharmonyand closeness.Yourintuitioncould helpimproveyourfinancial situation.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov.21

Yourrenewedvitalitywillinspire youtotakeonnewchallenges. Theobstaclesthatoncelimited youarefinallyreceding,leaving youfeelinglighter.You’llfeel readytofacethefuturewith

clarityandconfidence

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21

Aminorhealthissuedemands attention.Don’tdelaygetting help.Actquicklytoensurea speedyrecovery.Apositive mindsetwillboostyourvitality, helpingyouenjoylifemorefully.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Thosearoundyouwillbe brimmingwithenergy,bordering onintrusive.They’llbefullof suggestionsfornewactivities. Someideaswillexciteyou,while otherswon’t.Choosewhatsuits youbesttopreserveyourenergy, joyandsenseofauthenticity.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18

Betweenfamilyobligationsand professionalresponsibilities, youmayfeeloverwhelmed. Settingclearprioritieswillhelp youmoveforward.Byavoiding procrastination,youcan experiencethesatisfactionofa jobwelldoneandpeaceofmind.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

You’llexploreaspiritualpaththat helpsyoufindinnerbalance Thisjourneywillbringpeace, renewedenergyandanexchange ofknowledge.Thisenlightening developmentwillpavetheway forlastinghappiness.

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

TheParish of St.John theDivine, Squamish

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

WorshipService

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onour website and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org

ExaltingJesus,Equipping His Followers,Engaging theWorld See Website for Service times and location

coastalchurch.org/squamish

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