January 8, 2026

PAGE 3

THE CARING KIND

Local man rescues—and then keeps—dog in need

PAGE 15

HEALING TRAUMA

Our business beat this week highlights a local trauma counsellor

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

S Q U A M I S H C H I E F. C O M

MAIN TRAIL AT STAWAMUS CHIEF REMAINS CLOSED AFTER ROCKFALL

Geoscientist Pierre Friele points to ‘frost jacking’ as the likely cause of the Dec. 26 rockfall, as BC Parks continues to assess damage JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

R PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

NEW YEAR’S DAY PLUNGE: About 200 swimmers and spectators gathered at Sp’akw’us Feather Park to start the new year with the Squamish Polar Bear Swim at noon on Jan. 1, 2026.

SKYRIDGE VIEW DUPLEX

enowned Squamish geoscientist, Pierre Friele, says the rockfall on the Stawamus Chief on Dec. 26, was likely caused by frost jacking.

As of Monday, Jan. 5, BC Parks does not have an update on the timeline for opening the popular main hiking trail, which it closed Dec. 27. Assessments of the rockslide area are weather dependent, a spokesperson said.

Friele says that from looking at Environment Canada weather data from the Squamish Airport, on Dec. 26, it rained until about 11 a.m., with temperatures hovering just above 0 C through the day. Temperatures then dropped below 0 C at about 8 p.m., getting coldest at -1.4 C at 10 to 11 p.m. The event occurred at 10:40 p.m.; the ROCKFALL: Continued on 2

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ROCKFALL: Continued from 1 wind picked up a tiny bit, and the wind chill also dropped slightly below 0 C. Frost jacking is when there’s the upward displacement of an object.

In this case, Friele noted that rock is not a solid mass, it is full of joints, or cracks.

“Often those cracks, they’ll be what you call bridged. So there’ll be a crack, but there’ll be some part of the rock in there that’s still intact,” he explained. “So it’s barely hanging in there.

And then you fill that crack with water. So there’s the potential for higher pore water pressure. That adds strain on the joint…. And then when water freezes, it expands 7%. So that’s the process we call frost jacking ... when the water freezes and expands,” he said.

“Then that increase in volume jacks the crack wider and then causes those remaining bridges to finally break and send the rock on its way.”

Friele said the very wet fall Squamish has had could also be a contributing factor.

“You have multiple stressors,” he said. “You have lots of water in the cracks of the rock already. It’s kind of supercharged just because it’s been wet. And then you just add that other stressor on there, that frost heave. And then, boom, you get a rockfall event.”

From what he can gather, 10 or 15 trees were hit by the rockfall, creating a damage corridor.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Parks said the rockfall consisted of rock, soil and trees.

The amount of debris that fell is as yet unknown, but Friele said it looks like the boulder that came down was about two metres in diameter.

“It’s got a fairly substantial damage corridor on the trail,” Friele said, noting the rockfall took out a wooden staircase and a landing.

Friele suspects it will take some time to get the trail reopened as the start of the rockfall isn’t easily visible, so a crew will likely need to see it from above. Then there is the cleanup of the debris.

He says when considering risk from rockfall

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

The main trail to the Stawamus Chief remains closed.

from the Stawamus Chief there’s the individual level, and then the land manager level.

The assessment of risk is really for BC Parks in relation to how popular the spot has become.

“From the perspective of the individual, [it] is safe. You’re going through an area and your exposure time is very little and therefore from your own personal perspective it’s a safe activity,” he said.

“But when you’re a land manager and you have thousands of people every day in all-weather conditions going somewhere, then that accumulated exposure time can make that risk unacceptable for the land manager’s point of view. And so that’s where the difficulty comes in between, ‘Oh yeah, it’s fine, I can do that’ versus somebody else who has to make a decision for the larger group.”

He noted that these events usually correspond to inclement weather.

“So, at these times, there’s going to be less people out,” he said.

The most active times on the [Stawamus] Chief are in the summer and that’s when the hazard is the least.”

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Friele’s advice for those who recreate on the Stawamus Chief is to take precautions and don’t go out when environmental stressors are evident.

“If it’s really windy out, that’s when the trees are getting levered, and that could be a trigger.

If it’s above zero but going to be dropping below zero, that’s a stressor and vice versa. If it’s below zero and warming up, that could be a trigger as well,” he said.

“If it’s raining really hard, especially raining and windy together—any of these things that we know are potential triggers, weather-related triggers for rockfall, then just be mindful of that and don’t go out during those conditions,” he added. “And then if you’re out when those stressors are at a low point, you’re going to be fine more than likely. It’s just about being observant and taking adequate precautions.”

ROCKFALL CONTEXT As locals, especially those living north of the park in Valleycliffe, are well aware that rockfalls on the Stawamus Chief are not uncommon, especially in recent years.

“The [Stawamus] Chief is riddled with trails up all sides and there’s loose rock problems.

There’s rockfall sites everywhere on the mountain,” Friele said.

But he noted that it is variable over time.

There were years without frequent rockfalls.

“We’re clearly entering a mode where rockfall is picking up in frequency, whereas in the ‘90s and early 2000s, it was maybe in a low phase.

So we’re just seeing this natural variation happening.”

A study, “Reconstruction of rockfall events using dendrogeomorphological techniques in a highly visited climbing area,” published in 2025, which Friele was a part of, looked at the recent rockfall history below the North Wall of the Stawamus Chief.

The study says that typically, “weather phenomena are important rockfall drivers and include diurnal freeze-thaw activity, spring thaw, extreme summer and winter temperatures, heavy or lengthy rainfall, and diurnal, seasonal, and annual temperature changes.”

It also notes that rockfalls are very common in B.C.

BY THE NUMBERS “British Columbia ... is the most mountainous province in Canada and has the highest frequency of landslides, including rockfalls, in the country,” the study reads.

Looking at rockfall-impacted trees on the Stawamus Chief, the study’s researchers were able to develop a 167-year rockfall chronology.

The average age of impacted trees sampled is 107 years, while the minimum and maximum ages are, respectively, 13 and 384 years.

There were 51 rockfall events in the sample area between 1850 and 2017.

Researchers found evidence of 11 rockfalls that occurred in that specific area between 1940 and 1959.

Between 1980 and 1999, researchers found evidence of only two rockfall events in the samples.

ROCKFALL: Continued on 5

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 3

GOT NEWS? Email your news tip or story idea to:

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

‘BELLY FULL OF ROCKS’: SQUAMISH MAN RESCUES ABUSED DOG HIT BY CAR

When Kyle Archer pulled over to help what he thought was wildlife, he discovered something far more heartbreaking—a neglected puppy in desperate need of care We want to thank Kyle, and we want to thank the donors— everyone who cared enough to contribute to her care.

LIZ MCDONALD

emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

K

yle Archer’s life changed in an instant the night he met Lucy.

Late one night in November, Archer was driving along Highway 8 in the Lower Nicola area when he saw a car ahead brake suddenly. At first, he assumed the driver had encountered a deer. As he got closer, however, he spotted a small animal lying on the road and pulled over to help.

“As I came up to it, I saw it was a little puppy.

I didn’t know how old it was. I didn’t know what happened. It was all happening so fast,” Archer said.

The puppy, later named Lucy, was badly injured.

“As it turned around, it was carrying its hind leg as if it was almost dislocated—but it was broken,” Archer said. “I realized it had just been hit by a car, and that car left. It just left the dog in the middle of the highway, where it could have been struck again.”

Lucy could barely move and cried out in pain as Archer tried to help. Two other drivers stopped, including a veterinarian.

“It was just screaming, needing help. It couldn’t walk on its own,” Archer said. “It tried. It took about a step and then fell.”

EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE IN MERRITT Following the vet’s advice, Archer drove Lucy to Merritt, where X-rays at Merritt Veterinary Hospital revealed her leg was

JUDANNA DAWN support Lucy’s recovery, Archer launched a GoFundMe. Lucy was taken to Summerland for surgery, and the rescue agreed to allow Archer to adopt her.

‘WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND,’ RESCUE SAYS

PHOTO BY LIZ MCDONALD/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

Squamish resident Kyle Archer rescued and then adopted a puppy hit by a car near Merritt.

broken in two places. The injury required extensive emergency surgery, with amputation also considered as a possibility.

A local rescue group, Angel’s Animal Rescue Society later located Lucy’s owner, who agreed to surrender the dog.

“We had our eyes on Lucy, and we knew she was living in an environment that was less than ideal,” said Judanna Dawn, founder of Angel’s Animal Rescue. “Beyond being hit by a

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car, she had a belly full of rocks. This was a dog that was quite neglected.”

Archer soon made another decision: he would adopt Lucy and cover the cost of her medical care.

“I decided to fund the full surgery and give Angel’s Animal Rescue approval to book the appointment,” he said. “After that, I told them I wanted to bring that dog into my life.”

To help offset the unexpected expenses and

“We want to thank Kyle, and we want to thank the donors—everyone who cared enough to contribute to her care,” Dawn said.

“And we’re grateful that her owners ultimately surrendered her so we could give her a better life.”

While the rescue often sees injured animals brought in by members of the public, Dawn said Archer’s level of commitment stood out.

“I think Kyle is the only one who really went above and beyond,” she said. “He contributed financially in a big way, and now he’s adopted her.”

Now settled in Squamish, Archer and Lucy are preparing to spend their first Christmas together—and, eventually, to explore everything the community has to offer a man and his new best friend.

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COUNCIL REVIEWS FUTURE OF AGING MUNICIPAL HALL

The District of Squamish is facing mounting pressure to address the deteriorating condition of its nearly five-decade-old Municipal Hall, with staff citing overcrowding, and rising lease costs JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

T

he current Municipal Hall is increasingly in rough shape and plans need to be made to accommodate its staff before ultimate relocation of the facility occurs. That is the bottom line of a recent update to council as part of the District’s budget workshop process.

As a refresher for readers, replacing the Second Avenue Municipal Hall was identified as a critical priority in the Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan, along with local fire halls and the Public Works Facility. The fire hall builds are complete, with the $37 million Public Works Facility construction significantly underway.

Council wrapped up the remaining motions for the 2026 to 2035 Financial Plan at its Dec. 16 special business meeting. The draft budget will come before council for three readings and adoption in January.

At the special meeting, council was only to receive the information on Municipal Hall leases, which they unanimously voted to do.

The current Municipal Hall was built in 1972.

Harmony Cornwell, District director of

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

The office at 38030 Cleveland Ave., one of the extra office spaces being leased by the District to accommodate staff.

facilities, told council that the current building requires significant updates over the next decade, estimated at $2.5 million in 2020, which equates to approximately $4 to $5 million today, Cornwell said.

“These renewals include windows, roofing,

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plumbing, electrical systems, and building envelope upgrades. While some HVAC work is already in the capital plan, the majority of these renewals are not in the District’s 10-year financial plan.”

There are also seismic upgrades that are still outstanding.

“We need to prioritize the risk assessment and work for this category of upgrade,” Cornwell said.

She added that Municipal Hall cannot currently accommodate the staff whose jobs are based there. It is operating beyond capacity, in other words.

Current mitigation measures include work from home arrangements and shared desks.

However, these are not sustainable long-term solutions.

“Meeting rooms are limited, confidential conversations are challenging, and there is minimal room for organizational growth,” Cornwell said.

“To plan effectively, we must validate future space requirements over a 20-year horizon and update remote work assumptions.”

The District’s last space planning work was conducted over eight years ago and predates the pandemic, staff said.

This information was first presented during the Dec. 9th budget workshop, when council asked for a detailed cost and lease analysis, which was provided at the Dec. 16 meeting by Nav Triplett, District real estate portfolio manager.

Triplett told council that the District has two leases to accommodate those who can’t fit at Municipal Hall.

There’s the annex office, at 38085 Cleveland Ave, and the so-called “Cleveland office” at 38030 Cleveland Ave. For 2025, the District’s expenses on these leases were approximately $65,000 and that includes about $35,000 for the annex rent, triple net charges, and operating costs and roughly

around $30,000 for the Cleveland office lease and operating costs, she said.

About 73% of the annex costs are covered by external grants and capacity funding.

In a follow-up email, District staff confirmed that 40% of the lease payment is through Woodfibre LNG capacity funding, and 33% from other program grants.

“With these costs being split across two locations, it does add complexity and overhead.

These numbers highlight that maintaining the status quo isn’t cost neutral. The District is committing money annually to keep supplemental space operational,” Triplett said.

“This does not include future rent escalations or the risk of continued fragmentation across multiple locations.”

Both extra locations have one year leases each with “modest” rate increases.

The annex office is about 3,000 square feet and the rent is $36,000 per year, of which the District pays close to $10,000.

The second extra office at 38030 Cleveland Ave, is 1,000 sq ft and a little more than $24,000 per year, with an additional $5,000 cost in operating expenses. The term is from 2024 to 2028, but either party can terminate the lease with six months notice.

For 2026, staff next steps include validating long-term space requirements for each department and updating remote work policy assumptions.

“This undertaking will be done by staff working groups across various departments, primarily human resources and facilities,” Cornwell said.

Staff’s plan is also to confirm the seismic scope and develop a high-level cost estimate for the existing facility.

“While recreation services remain a major focus, we are committed to continuing progress on Municipal Hall planning in parallel,” she said. “We recognize that the Municipal Hall project is critical as per the real estate and facilities master plan and we don’t want it to fall behind but are cognizant of funding challenges.”

Currently, the 10-year financial plan assumes that eventually, the District will have to lease another Municipal Hall until a new one is built.

Accounting for lease payments of $900,000 begins in 2027, and then it moves to $1.36 million thereafter.

“So, at this point, that is the direction that the financial plan takes until council provides a different direction. That way, in that time period, if we were to shift strategies, then we would start to build in those additional costs,” Cornwell said.

Asked for further information, District staff said “the budget for lease payments in 2027 is to be prepared for leasing office space as we consider the long-term functionality of Municipal Hall. In 2026, staff will be validating long-term space requirements, and the outcome of this work will inform upcoming leasing decisions.”

squamishchief.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 5

ROCKFALL: Continued from 2 “As many as seven of these events may have been triggered by earthquakes, and up to 12 could have happened in connection with storms, during which more than 50 mm of rain fell over a three- to five-day period.”

The scientists involved with the study also compiled rainfall and temperature data from four meteorological stations and earthquake data from Earthquakes Canada.

On June 23, 1946, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake with an epicentre on central Vancouver Island, about 160 km from Squamish, triggered several small rockfalls on Stawamus Chief, the study notes.

It also notes that on Jan. 14, 1999, heavy rain (77 mm in 24 hours) triggered a large rockfall and two smaller ones.

The more recent heat dome was also cited as a cause of rockfalls.

“A moderate-sized rockfall occurred on the North Wall on June 27, 2021 ... during an unprecedented heat wave, when the temperature in Squamish exceeded 40 C for the first time in recorded history.”

The researchers acknowledge that many small rockfalls are not officially reported; rather, they may be posted to social media.

“Long and short-period precipitation could be an important cause of rockfall at Stawamus Chief. That finding does not discount the fact that other triggers and the underlying geology and topography contribute,” the report reads.

The researchers also say that not all triggering factors, such as earthquakes or

extreme rainfall events, will lead to a rockfall.

However, the prevalence of rockfalls “pose a serious risk to hikers and climbers,” that is not well understood by most who visit it, the study notes.

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is not only a popular hiking spot, but also the most popular rock climbing area in Canada.

“The greatest rockfall risk in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is faced by people bouldering among the talus at the base of the Grand Wall, traversing hiking and climbing trails, and climbing the rock walls themselves,” reads the study.

“In comparison, the risk to drivers on the forestry road is low, as few rockfalls reach the road, and the exposure time of drivers is low.”

Ultimately, the study serves as an example that dendrogeomorphology— the scientific discipline that uses tree-ring data to date geological processes like rock and landslides— can be used for more thoroughly assessing rockfall hazards on the Stawamus Chief, researchers say, to aid authorities in managing rockfall risk in the park.

“Our pilot project demonstrates the potential of these methods for providing an improved understanding of rockfall and debris flow hazards in forested terrain, and in t his specific case, for guiding BC Parks on risks faced by hikers and rock climbers who visit Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.”

The study was published in the peer-reviewed Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana (Bulletin of the Mexican Geological Society).

NEWS BRIEF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS IN

How much is your property worth?

For many locals, the answer is likely that it is worth a little more than it was assessed at last year.

The 2026 property assessments, reflecting the market value as of July 1, 2025, are released each year on Jan. 2.

Property owners can check the value of their homes at bcassessment.ca.

The 2026 Property Assessment Notices are also being mailed to each property owner.

“The softening housing market is being reflected in 2026 property assessments,” said BC Assessment assessor Bryan Murao, in a news release.

“Many homeowners throughout the Lower Mainland can expect some decreases in assessed value with most changes ranging between -10% to 0%,” he added.

Overall, in the Lower Mainland—which includes the Sea to Sky for the assessments— total assessments have decreased from about $2.01 trillion in 2025 to about $1.92 trillion for 2026.

However, Squamish is a bit of an outlier.

BC Assessment releases summary estimates of typical 2025 versus 2026 assessed value changes of residential properties for each community throughout the region.

For Squamish, single family homes in the District saw about a 2% increase in median

assessed value: at about $1.5 million for the 2026 typical assessed value, compared with $1,483,000 when assessed in 2025.

Strata homes are also up slightly, showing another 2% increase, at about $850,000 for the 2026 assessment, up from about $830,000 in 2025.

“Two per cent is not very much of an increase, but it does stand out,” Murao told The Squamish Chief.

“In a year when we’re quoting 0 to -10% for all of the Lower Mainland, and you even if you go past Squamish and you get up to Whistler for example, I think Whistler is flat at … 0%,” he said.

“So on either side you have lesser changes, but it’s the same in Squamish for single family homes and for strata homes as well.”

Whether your Squamish assessment went up or down, that doesn’t necessarily dictate the impact on property taxes, Murao stresses.

“It is important to understand that changes in property assessments do not automatically translate into a corresponding change in property taxes,” he said. “As noted on your assessment notice, how your assessment changes relative to the average change in your community is what may affect your property taxes.”

What also matters is the municipal government budget and what revenue it deems it needs.

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Remove all decorations, lights and tinsel No artificial snow SQUAMISH

Drop-off locations

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Curbside collection (where applicable) Cut tree into pieces smaller than 10" long and less than 3" in diameter Place in organics tote - lid must close fully

Scouts tree chipping event (fees apply) January 3 & 4 from 10 am - 4 pm at Canadian Tire, Squamish

Tipping fees apply

6 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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COUNCIL SCALES BACK FINCH DRIVE TOWNHOUSE PROJECT AFTER EARLIER APPROVAL

Council rescinded and reapproved third reading of the 1032 Finch Drive rezoning, cutting building height and units from the 40-townhouse plan first approved in May and reducing community amenity contributions

LIZ MCDONALD

emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

P

erhaps it’s a sign of the times when a housing developer in Squamish decides they need to scale back their project.

Council rescinded and reissued third reading of a zoning bylaw amendment for 1032 Finch Drive at its meeting on Dec. 16 after approving changes to a proposed townhouse development in the Loggers East neighbourhood.

The revisions reduce the height of the principal building from 14.4 metres to 10.69 metres, cut the number of townhouses from 40 to 38, and lower the maximum gross floor area from 6,131 square metres to 5,765 square metres.

The land development agreement requires a series of commitments, including cash-inlieu contributions for active transportation and parks totalling just over $501 thousand, the donation of space in two townhouses to

PHOTO BY AKA ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN

A rendering of the Finch Drive proposal.

the Squamish Community Housing Society, a strata park, 2.25-metre garage doors, a no-gas covenant, electric vehicle charging

infrastructure, and a riparian covenant to protect environmentally sensitive land on the site.

Once approved, the land will be rezoned from Rural Residential to a Comprehensive Development zone.

According to a staff report, developer Du Guangping wants to reduce the number of proposed units from 40 to 38 for financial reasons while finalizing the land development agreement and preparing a development permit submission.

“This would reduce the previously negotiated [community amenity contribution] target that was previously presented to council and require the density section of the CD-119 to be reduced accordingly,” the report states.

One building will be reduced from eight units to six, and the maximum height will shift from four storeys to three.

“These amendments will improve the livability of the project and result in less shading from buildings 4 and 5,” the report continues. “The proposed density reduction is below the maximum allowable density of 40 units identified in the Loggers East Neighbourhood Plan for the site. Given that FINCH: Continued on 9

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 7

PANEL EYES NORTHYARDS SIX-STOREY AFFORDABLE, SUPPORTIVE BUILD

The Advisory Design Panel offered feedback on accessibility, landscaping and liveability of the proposed buildings at 39900 Government Rd

School Registration for the 2026/2027 School Year Opens January 20th-23rd, 2026 Kindergarten, French Immersion Programs, and All New Students to the District School District No.48 (SD48) is welcoming registrations for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year starting January 20th, 2026, at 8:00 am and ending January 23rd, 2026, at 4:00 pm.

There will be two key steps: Step One: Parents and Guardians will be asked to fill out an online webform through the school district website. This includes basic contact information such as name, email address, physical address and student name and grade. Parents will register as a new student to the district or a current student registering for French Immersion.

PHOTO VIA DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH REPORT

Map shows 39000 Government Rd., the location of two six storey affordable and supportive housing projects.

LIZ MCDONALD

guidelines, the developer was encouraged to apply design principles where appropriate.

A

BUILT FORM, HAZARDS DISCUSSION

emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

proposed affordable and supportive housing development at 39900 Government Rd. in Squamish’s Northyards neighbourhood went before council’s advisory design panel (ADP) on Dec. 18, offering an early look at the form and character of two six-storey buildings planned for District-owned land.

The project includes two buildings on a single site. The north building would contain 100 units of affordable rental housing operated by the Squamish Community Housing Society, while the south building would include 65 units of supportive housing operated by the Squamish Helping Hands Society. The District of Squamish owns the land.

According to a staff report, the project is a partnership between the District as landowner, BC Housing as developer, and the two non-profit housing providers.

The treed site would be cleared and filled to meet flood construction level requirements. As part of the ADP review, panel members were asked to provide advice on accessibility, architectural design, building materials and landscaping.

Because the project falls under an expedited review process, only one ADP meeting was required. Any outstanding concerns will be addressed between staff and the applicant following the review.

While the supportive housing building is considered an institutional use and is not required to meet form and character design

Robyn Hay, planner with the District, explained that the future Pioneer Way extension, located along the east side of the site, is subject to district acquisition from the Crown and is not expected to be built in the foreseeable future. As a result, it was not factored into the current site planning concept.

However, a multi-use path is proposed along the east side of the site to provide a connection from the south end of the development to Government Road.

“A flood hazard assessment report was required and completed,” Collin Truong, principal architect at Integra Architecture said, noting the development has been designed to maintain flood conveyance capacity and avoid increasing flood risk to adjacent or upstream properties.

The site is also within a wildfire hazard area, which influenced the choice of non-combustible building materials and the creation of a fire priority landscaping zone. The intent, Tong said, is to reduce wildfire risk and help protect people, property and structures.

Interior programming for the supportive housing building includes support spaces and services located throughout the main floor. Two outdoor amenity areas are proposed: one adjacent to the dining hall and another south of the multi-purpose room. The design aims to BUILD: Continued on 9

Step Two: Make an appointment to complete your registration at your English catchment school by booking online through the district website or by contacting the school directly.

Note - French Immersion registrations must be completed through your English catchment school, not the French catchment school. For Cultural Journeys and Learning Expeditions, complete your registration directly at St’a7mes School.

Please note the following important information: • A lottery system will be used to determine priority placement order for all pre-registrations on the webform. This will provide a more equitable process where space may be limited.

• Parents and guardians will have 10 days to complete the registration process at their catchment school. After 10 days, the priority placement order obtained from the lottery will be forfeited.

• Parents and guardians who miss the availability of the webform can register by contacting their English catchment school to book an appointment. In this case, a time and date stamp on the registration form will determine priority placement order.

For more detailed information visit: www.sd48seatosky.org or contact your English catchment school principal, or St’a7mes School if you are interested in Cultural Journeys/Learning Expeditions. We encourage parents and guardians to register as soon as possible to help schools plan for September 2026.

8 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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Dog Licence Renewals

Renew your 2026 Dog Licence using your account number from your renewal notice. Renew by January 31 to get the discounted rate!

Other ways to renew: In-person at Municipal Hall between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Business Opportunities Requests for Proposals

• Supply & Delivery of Fleet Vehicles – Preferred Dealer • Labour Force Development Plan squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

Need a New Dog Licence?

Visit Municipal Hall on Second Avenue, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm to set up your account and collect your dog tag.

For more information, visit squamish.ca/dog-licences.

Sign up for eNews squamish.ca/enews

Infrastructure Upgrades

• X̱wún̓eḵw Park Sea Dike upgrades continue.

• Loggers East Storm Sewer project continues on Finch Drive.

• Pia Lift Station rehabilitation continues. squamish.ca/building-our-future

Have a Go at Yoga!

Winter Snow Removal

In the event of heavy snowfall in Squamish, District snow-clearing priorities are to: • Keep open priority routes for emergency vehicles and transit. While the snow is still falling, this often means that the plows need to remain on these routes to keep them open.

• Open up business areas, and civic buildings - then provide access to residential properties.

• After the storm has passed, restore mobility on residential streets as well as removing snow off the roads to permit drainage.

During snow storms, crews will be focused on first priorities that may cause delays in clearing secondary and residential areas. Residents can help by: • Removing any vehicles from the street.

• Placing garbage and recycling totes on the driveway instead of the road.

• Shoveling the snow out of the catch basin in front of the home to prevent flooding.

• Clearing the snow from the sidewalk.

View snow-clearing routes (scroll down for the map) and learn more at squamish.ca/snow

at Brennan Park Recreation Centre Ready to find your flow?

Maybe some yoga with your little ones?

Our Family Yoga and Yoga Flow classes have begun for the 2026 season. Book multiple classes through our online registration system and receive a reduced class rate, or drop-in when you like (space permitting)!

Yoga Flow Thursdays, 4:30–5:30 pm Family Yoga Fridays, 4–5 pm

Field Allocation Meeting

A Field Allocation Meeting will be held on January 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre. The final calendar will be posted online no later than February 16, 2026.

Development Review

• 38927 Production Way – Development Permit squamish.ca/review

Sign up for Squamish Alert squamish.ca/alert

2026 Landfill Hours and Fees There are new operating hours and tipping fees for the Squamish Landfill. Visit squamish.ca/landfill for more information.

DAILY (December–February)

9 am–4:45 pm

DAILY (March–November)

9 am–5:45 pm

December 24 & 31

9 am–2:45 pm

December 25 and January 1

Sportball Birthday Packages NEW!

Closed

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN

Looking for the perfect birthday party for your energetic kids? Sportball offers high-energy, action-packed birthday parties for kids aged 2 to 12!

Available to book online now at squamish.ca/rec

RECREATION AND CULTURE

Adult Beginner Tap

Beginning Feburary, Tuesdays, 5:45–6:45 pm

Whether you’re new to tap dance or returning after a break, this class offers a welcoming space to learn and grow.

Limited tap shoes will be available to borrow, free of charge. Drop-ins available, space permitting.

Check out the arena and pool schedules!

squamish.ca/rec

squamishchief.com

FINCH: Continued from 6 Bylaw 3153 had received third reading and has not yet been adopted, staff are recommending rescinding third reading and giving an amended third reading to the revised bylaw.”

Staff also noted that including a sunset clause in the agreement would not be advisable under current District practice, as CAC cash contributions are typically paid prior to bylaw adoption.

CAC REDUCTION Community amenity contributions, or CACs, are payments or in-kind contributions developers provide to help fund amenities such as parks, transportation infrastructure and affordable housing.

Overall, the revisions reduced both the scale of the project and the amount the developer will contribute toward community amenities.

The revised CAC offer meets policy requirements for a townhouse rezoning proposing 30 or more units. Staff noted that CAC targets are not applied to floor area being donated to the housing society, which is why the gross floor area figures are lower than the maximum permitted under the CD-119 zone.

The revised offer represents a reduction of $26,211 in cash and land-in-lieu contributions and critical amenities, 17.75 square metres less gross floor area dedicated to the housing society, and $5,614.50 less in cash-in-lieu contributions for active transportation and parks. Staff said the applicant indicated the reduced CAC improves the financial viability of the project.

Coun. Jenna Stoner asked what engagement would look like regarding the donated housing units.

“I think that this is one of the first projects that we’re seeing go forward with the proposal of donating units to the housing society,” she said. “So I’m just curious what engagement we can expect through the development process on what the final product will be. Is it just like they get what they get, they don’t get upset, as my fouryear-old likes to say, or how do we make sure it’s actually functional for the folks that we know will be moving into those spaces and their say in how that gets developed?”

Staff said it would likely involve two three-bedroom units, with plans refined through the development process.

“Really, we’re able to secure the amount of floor area and roughly the number of units,” staff said. “There’s not a whole lot of discretion on the interior of the units.”

The affordable housing units must be comparable or similar to the rest of the development.

SUNSET CLAUSE DEBATE During discussion on the CAC and amenity cost charges (ACC) framework–new tool created by the province for local governments to collect fees for amenities like ice rinks and pools–councillors raised

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 9

If in three years time a building permit hasn’t been secured or issued, then the land development agreement would sunset.

COUN. JENNA STONER questions about whether a sunset clause could be applied to the land development agreement. A sunset clause applies a timeline on a developer to put shovels in the ground.

Staff cautioned there could be legal risks, noting that new case law or legislation could emerge during the transition from CACs to the provincially mandated amenity cost charge (ACC) framework.

Staff thought that delaying CAC collection could expose the District to policy or legal changes during this transition period.

Stoner clarified her intent was not to delay CAC collection, but to collect CACs at the building permit stage while including a three-year sunset clause on the land development agreement.

“If in three years time a building permit hasn’t been secured or issued, then the land development agreement would sunset,” she said.

Staff responded that under current practice, CAC collection occurs at adoption, and once collected, the agreement is considered locked in unless renegotiated.

Council was told a revised CAC and DCC policy is expected to come forward in early February.

Stoner ultimately motioned to include a sunset clause, arguing it would encourage projects to move forward while still securing community amenities.

“This still means that we hopefully collect the CACs in cash at time of building permit, but hopefully actually means that building permits come to fruition,” she said, adding that affordable housing delivered on site cannot be secured early in the process.

Councillor Andrew Hamilton spoke in suppport of Stoner’s train of thought.

“I think that they’re an important tool for us to use to make sure that when we give a developer upzoning in exchange for CACs, those buildings get built within a reasonable time frame,” Hamilton said.

Mayor Armond Hurford said he was supportive of the intent but cautioned that sunset clauses should be addressed more broadly through upcoming CAC and ACC policy work, rather than on a case-by-case basis.

Hurford, Stoner, Hamilton, councillors Chris Pettingill, John French and Lauren Greenlaw voted to approve the scaled back project with an added sunset clause. Coun.

Eric Andersen was the sole vote against.

mandate were also noted.

BUILD: Continued from 7 maximize natural light and southern exposure to support outdoor programming.

“We have worked extensively with Helping Hands Society to determine programming requirements and meet their objectives in conjunction with the support of BC Housing,” Truong said.

Units in both buildings are designed to be adaptable to individual needs, with two units fully accessible. The two buildings are designed with similar architectural language “to provide a homogeneous development,” Truong said.

LANDSCAPING Landscaping plans include covered pavilions—one for group gathering and another designated for smoking—as well as well-lit walking spaces, FireSmart planting, seasonal interest, and irrigation. Bike parking and outdoor gathering spaces are also included in the plans.

Panel members raised questions about public art, tree retention and replacement, and the balance between parking requirements and green space. Michael Vorhies, B.C. Society of Landscape Architects panellist asked whether additional trees could be incorporated into parking areas, citing shade and temperature regulation benefits.

In response, Michael Patterson from Perry and Associates landscaping firm, said soil volume requirements for trees are still being worked through and may require structural soil beneath parking areas. Cost considerations related to the affordable and supportive housing

ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS RAISED Accessibility was a major focus of the discussion. Panel members asked for clarification on grading, ramp design, accessible parking and outdoor amenities. Sarah Tipler, a member with expertise in accessible design, emphasized minimizing surface texture on ramps and ensuring accessible routes through play areas and common spaces.

“An 8.33% ramp is the absolute minimum you can do in terms of usability,” she said when offering critical feedback on a ramp into a play area.

Concerns were also raised about accessible visitor parking, accessible picnic tables, and the layout of adaptable units, particularly studio units. Tipler encouraged the design team to consider adaptability in larger unit types to better accommodate long-term residents.

Other comments focused on material choices, entrances and weather protection. Several panellists expressed concern about the use of white exterior finishes in Squamish’s wet climate, suggesting softer tones to reduce long-term staining and moss growth.

Panel members also encouraged stronger visual cues at building entrances, particularly for residents arriving from parking areas, and additional landscaping to soften large paved areas.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the advisory design panel voted to support the project in principle and requested the applicant continue working with staff to resolve the identified design and accessibility concerns.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Squamish 55+ Community Society JANUARY 28TH, 2026, 1:00 pm at The 55 Activity Centre

ELECTION OF NEW BOARD VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS • PRESIDENT – OPEN • VICE PRESIDENT – OPEN • SECRETARY – ONE APPLICANT TO DATE • TREASURE - ONE APPLICANT TO DATE • DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS – OPEN • DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS – OPEN • DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP – OPEN • DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE – ONE APPLICANT TO DATE

The Squamish 55 Community Society is open to everyone 55+

Make a difference!

Share your time, experience and support for older adults in the community.

To volunteer for a Board position or to nominate someone email: president@squamish55communitysociety.ca

10 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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NOTICE OF ELECTOR ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS District of Squamish Council is considering the adoption of the following Loan Authorization Bylaws. If you object to one or more of these bylaws, please complete and submit an Elector Response Form for each bylaw you are not in favour of. Council will consider each bylaw separately.

Pursuant to Section 86 of the Community Charter, any of the Loan Authorization Bylaws may be adopted by Council if, after the deadline, less than 10% of qualified electors in the District of Squamish have signed and submitted Elector Response Forms. If, after the deadline on Monday February 16, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at least 2,190 electors (10% of 21,897) have submitted signed Elector Response Forms, the District of Squamish Council may not adopt the Bylaw unless it receives assent of the electors by voting.

This alternative approval process applies to all residents of the District of Squamish who qualify to vote, and responses must be given in the form established by Council (Elector Response Form). Authorized Elector Response Forms are available to the public at Municipal Hall (37955 Second Avenue, Squamish) or online at squamish.ca/aap. District of Squamish residents signing an Elector Response Form must meet all the requirements of a qualified elector on the day of signing. If you are not opposed to any of the proposed bylaws no action is required.

Bylaw 3160 Project: Flood Protection Total Project Cost: $2,000,000 The District of Squamish proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $2,020,202 under authority of District of Squamish Flood Protection Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3160, 2025.

This project will improve flood protection for Squamish. The loan will cover flood protection construction costs in addition to acquiring any property, easements, rights-of-way, licenses, rights or authorities that may be needed.

Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation no later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue.

Based on 2025 taxation rates, the annual debt service costs represent approximately $0.83 for residential owners and $2.25 for business owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Required Financing

Estimated Debt Reserve Fund

$2,000,000

$20,202

DEADLINE Signed Elector Response Forms must be received by the Corporate Officer at Squamish Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC, before 4:30 p.m. on February 16, 2026, in order to be counted. Forms may be submitted in person to the Corporate Administration Department at Municipal Hall during regular business hours, mailed to the attention of the Corporate Officer, or emailed to corporateofficer@squamish.ca.

FURTHER INFORMATION The proposed bylaws and related materials are available on the District’s website at squamish.ca/aap and at Municipal Hall between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and statutory holidays.

This is the first of two publications of this notice dated January 8, 2026.

Learn more about AAPs and the proposed projects: squamish.ca/aap

Total Authorization Request $2,020,202

Taxpayer Impact (cost per $100,000 of assessed residential property value) $0.83

Bylaw 3162 Project: Whittaker Slough Pump Station Total Project Cost: $4,986,630 The District of Squamish proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $568,060 under authority of District of Squamish Whittaker Slough Pump Station Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3162, 2025 for the purposes outlined in the paragraphs below.

The Whittaker Slough has historically experienced flooding during high rainfall events. This project will involve the construction of a new pumping station, including a new discharge pipe through the Squamish River Dike to convey pumped water.

Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation no later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue.

Based on 2025 taxation rates, the annual debt service costs represent approximately $0.24 for residential owners and $0.64 for business owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Required Financing

Estimated Debt Reserve Fund

Total Authorization Request

Taxpayer Impact (cost per $100,000 of assessed residential property value)

$562,379

$5,681

$568,060

$0.24

squamishchief.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 11

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NOTICE OF ELECTOR ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS

Tree Management Bylaw Review The District is reviewing its Tree Management Bylaw to align with the latest best management practices and the community’s environmental stewardship values.

Bylaw 3166 Project: Fire Truck Purchase Total Project Cost: $1,800,000 The District of Squamish proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $1,818,182 under authority of District of Squamish Fire Truck Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3166, 2025.

The District of Squamish has determined a need for the purchase of a fire truck, which will increase the firefighting capabilities of Squamish Fire Rescue.

Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation no later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue.

Based on 2025 taxation rates, the annual debt service costs represent approximately $0.76 for residential owners and $2.26 for business owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Required Financing

Estimated Debt Reserve Fund

Total Authorization Request

Taxpayer Impact (cost per $100,000 of assessed residential property value)

$1,800,000

$18,182

$1,818,182

$0.76

We’re looking for community input to help us shape the bylaw, so log in and leaf a comment!

For more info and to complete the survey, head to: LetsTalkSquamish.ca/tree-bylaw

Still need to renew your business licence for 2026?

Pay online now! squamish.ca/online-services

Learn more about AAPs and the proposed projects: squamish.ca/aap

Fridays, 9–11 am January 16–February 6

LEAP (3–5YRS)

at Brennan Park Recreation Centre

Little Sport Stars

Run! Jump! These sessions will have your little athlete playing a variety of sports and games.

We have to warn you though, they will be having so much fun, you’ll have to drag them out the door at pick up time!

No daily drop-ins.

squamish.ca/rec

12 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

squamishchief.com THE SQUAMISH CHIEF NEWSPAPER, PRINTED EVERY THURSDAY

BY LODESTAR MEDIA 38113 Second Avenue Box 3500, Squamish BC, V8B 0B6

CONTACT US PRINTED EVERY THURSDAY BY LODESTAR MEDIA T: 604-892-9161 news@squamishchief.com ads@ squamishchief.com classifieds@squamishchief.com subs@squamishchief.com production@squamishchief.com obituaries: ads@squamishchief.com EDITOR JENNIFERTHUNCHER jthuncher@ lodestarmedia.ca follow @thuncher REPORTER LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@ lodestarmedia.ca REPORTER INA PACE ipace@ lodestarmedia.ca SALES MANAGER CATHIE GREENLEES cgreenlees@ squamishchief.com MULTI- MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE KIM BOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief.com CIRCULATION MANAGER DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief.com

PUBLISHER SARAH STROTHER sstrother@lodestarmedia.ca

The Squamish Chief is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact Editor Jennifer Thuncher at jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Reproduction of any material contained in this publication is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publisher.

EDITORIAL

PRIVACY PARADOX

W

e live in a time when there is more protection of privacy but also more importance of sharing private information, as evidenced in Squamish this month with two unrelated events.

There was a time when it was a big deal to be the first baby of the year in Squamish, or in any small town. Businesses would donate prizes and there was a splashy image in the newspaper, like the 1958 birth of Valerie Ann, shared with a big photo of baby and mom, Mrs. Hazel Armstrong, in the Squamish Times.

The Squamish Chief still is on call for the news of the first baby, but increasingly, parents don’t want to share so much about it in the news. For 2026, the first baby was born at home at about 4:40 a.m. on Jan. 2 and brought to Squamish General Hospital thereafter. The only information our health authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, could release was the father’s name.

Of course, it is understandable that people are leerier of releasing information. After all, in yesteryear, the image would be in a print paper for a couple thousand locals to see, not uploaded to the internet for the approximately six billion people who log on to potentially access.

Congratulations to the family of the first Sea to Sky baby! We wish you a world of happiness, peace and safe exposure on the world wide web.

This desire for privacy is more and more common in all facets of the work we do as reporters.

Institutions, like the RCMP, and school districts are much quicker to claim they can’t share information journalists feel the public has a right to for privacy reasons. As noted, this is sometimes understandable, and then sometimes it seems more of a shield to protect reputations and reduce institutional risk than a real concern for people’s privacy.

On the flip side, uploading one’s DNA is increasingly valuable. What could be more private than DNA—the literal hereditary material that creates each of us? And yet, as we recently wrote about, uploading your DNA to one of the eligible databases could help law enforcement solve cases—like unidentified remains— now and for generations to come.

As Marie Palmer, an accredited investigative genetic genealogist, says, this isn’t something to take lightly, as often there can be shocking and sometimes upsetting discoveries when we look into our genetic history, but genealogy can also be so powerful in helping us understand our family’s past, and could bring closure to a family who desperately needs it.

Palmer is presenting “Solving Cold Cases Using Investigative Genetic Genealogy,” on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. If you are into unravelling your family’s history or true crime, it is definitely something to check out.

The point is that, like the public, journalists and their media outlets increasingly struggle—and butt up against—these questions of privacy.

It is a work in progress.

EBY ADMITS DECRIMINALIZATION WAS A MISTAKE, YET REFUSES TO PULL THE PLUG PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK ROB SHAW

D

espite admitting decriminalizing drugs was the “wrong” move, and reversing much of it under public pressure, the B.C. government is still refusing to say whether it will ask Ottawa for permission to keep the experiment alive.

The three-year pilot project expires Jan. 31. B.C. requires a federal exemption to continue allowing people with small amounts of illegal drugs like cocaine, meth and fentanyl, to possess those drugs without the threat of criminal prosecution.

Yet with less than a month to go, the same government that publicly disowned the policy says it has yet to make up its mind on if it should continue.

“At this point no decisions have been made regarding the future of the decriminalization pilot,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

That alone is a surprising statement from the administration of Premier David Eby. He’s admitted publicly that decriminalization was a failure. His government begged Ottawa to recriminalize drugs in public places barely 18 months into the experiment. And there are virtually no allies left for the idea, after police, municipalities and businesses pulled their support following a public backlash over rising

open drug use in parks and on city streets.

Despite all that, the government insists it has made “no decisions” on whether it wants to carry on.

Odd. Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko has a theory, and it’s one that aligns neatly with the government’s silence. She suspects B.C. New Democrats are hoping Ottawa kills the program for them, sparing them from having to formally pull the plug on a policy they now admit they got completely wrong.

“I think that they’re really hoping at this point that Prime Minister Mark Carney saves them and cancels it himself,” she said.

“Because then they can be like, ‘Oh darn, we really wanted to keep it because we’re so compassionate,’ or whatever they are going to say, ‘but that mean old Prime Minister Carney, he cancelled it fully and we have to go along with it.’

“Rather than put on their big boy clothes and actually make the right decision for British Columbians, which is end it.”

It’s a plausible theory, especially for a new prime minister who didn’t green-light this mess in the first place and won’t want to get anywhere near it now.

Eby has at times mentioned keeping the remnants of decriminalization in place to protect people using drugs inside a home from getting charged if they witness an overdose and have to call for help.

Yet, there is no public data available to quantify SHAW: Continued on 13

squamishchief.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 13

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

JOIN US ONLINE

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK Are you planning to change your relationship with alcohol in 2026?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

How did you spend your Christmas Day? (Top 3) WITH FAMILY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS WORKED

67% 8% 6%

PHOTO BY NEIL BROWN

THE GIVING KIND: Local Neil Brown’s family created this heart for neighbours to enjoy during the snowy period before Christmas.

SHAW: Continued from 12 whether decriminalization has made that situation any better. It’s not even clear anyone is tracking it.

B.C. never produced a publicly available dashboard tracking the impacts of decriminalization — despite that being one of Health Canada’s conditions for approval. What little data does exist is scattered, contradictory and in some cases rendered useless by the government’s decision to partially recriminalize mid-stream.

Drug possession offences, drug seizures and drug trafficking offences are all back up almost to pre-decriminalization levels, according to B.C’s latest quarterly update to Ottawa.

Even reducing stigma amongst drug

users—which the NDP government said would encourage people to seek out treatment and help—has not markedly improved.

After three full years, the province still cannot clearly articulate what worked about decriminalization, what didn’t, or why.

As for overdose deaths? They continued to worsen during decriminalization, and then improved slightly after partial recriminalization. Nobody has convincingly explained why.

That may be because the government can’t. The data is thin and the policy itself changed so much that meaningful conclusions are almost impossible.

The premier made the future of decriminalization sound pretty cut and dry during a public speech to real estate

developers in October.

“I was wrong on drug decriminalization and the effect that it would have,” said Eby. “I wasn’t alone. But it was not the right policy.”

So why leave the door open at all to continuing?

A government that says decriminalization was wrong, but refuses to formally end it, is taking the easy way out and hoping someone else makes the tough decisions for it.

Rob Shaw has spent more than 17 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for BIV. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR THEY’LL KEEP DEMANDING MORE

I

read the interview with our MP Patrick Weiler [“Sea to Sky MP on the federal MOU with Alberta,” published Dec. 10], in which Mr. Patrick Weiler’s main defence of the federal-Alberta pipeline

memorandum of understanding seems to be that the feds needed to make peace with Alberta.

But didn’t we already make peace with Alberta to the tune of tens of billions in taxpayer dollars to build the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion?

Seems to me that Alberta—I should say, the current powers-that-be in our neighbouring province—are just going to keep demanding more and more.

There’s no economy on a dead planet.

Chris Joseph Squamish

LETTERS POLICY The Squamish Chief welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words. Letters should be exclusive to this publication and are meant to respond to a local story in The Squamish Chief or raise an issue happening in town. Please include your name, neighbourhood and daytime phone number. The deadline is 5 p.m.

Monday to be considered for Thursday’s edition. Full names and neighbourhood will be published with the letter. The publisher reserves the right to refuse and edit letters for length and clarity or to address legal concerns. Email letters to: editor@squamishchief.com.

MOST READ STORY

Police reject birthday plea from excessive speeder in Sea to Sky

TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK This week’s TikTok by reporter Ina Pace features local favourites, the Bluesberry Jam Showband during a recent rehearsal.

The band celebrates 30 years in February.

14 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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Notice of Bylaw Readings

Notice of Bylaw Readings

District of Squamish Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, Amendment Bylaw (Local and Liquor Primary Commercial) No. 3214, 2025

District of Squamish Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, Amendment Bylaw (Garibaldi Highlands Node) No. 3215, 2025

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 467 of the Local Government Act, that District of Squamish Council will be considering first, second and third reading of District of Squamish Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, Amendment Bylaw (Local and Liquor Primary Commercial) No. 3214, 2025.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 467 of the Local Government Act, that District of Squamish Council will be considering first, second and third reading of District of Squamish Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011, Amendment Bylaw (Garibaldi Highlands Node) No. 3215, 2025.

AFFECTED LANDS

All properties zoned Local Commercial (C-1) or Liquor Primary Establishment Commercial (C-6).

Proposed Bylaw Amendments

The purpose of the proposed bylaw is to add assembly use to the list of permitted uses, require a minimum of 20% employment space in new development, and increase the maximum height to four storeys in the Local Commercial (C-1) Zone. Additionally, assembly, entertainment, and restaurant uses are proposed to be added to the list of permitted uses in the Liquor Primary Establishment Commercial (C-6) Zone.

LOCATION MAP

NO PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED

In accordance with Provincial legislation, Section 464(2) of the Local Government Act, a local government is not required to hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning bylaw if an Official Community Plan (OCP) is in effect and the bylaw is consistent with the OCP. This proposed rezoning meets those requirements.

WHEN

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE

Council Chambers at Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C. NO PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED

In accordance with Provincial legislation, Section 464(2) of the Local Government Act, a local government is not required to hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning bylaw if an Official Community Plan (OCP) is in effect and the bylaw is consistent with the OCP. This proposed rezoning meets those requirements.

A copy of the proposed bylaw and related information that has been or may be considered by the Council can be inspected online or at Municipal Hall.

Online at: LetsTalkSquamish.ca/neighbourhood-nodes-squamish In Person: Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia, from January 1 to January 13, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Enquiries regarding the proposed amendment bylaw may be made to the Planning Department at 604-815-5002 or by email to planning@squamish.ca.

This is the second of two notices. Dated this 8 day of January, 2026, at Squamish, British Columbia.

AFFECTED LANDS

A copy of the proposed bylaw and related information that has been or may be considered by the Council can be inspected online or at Municipal Hall.

Online at: LetsTalkSquamish.ca/ Proposed Bylaw Amendments neighbourhood-nodes-squamish The purpose of the proposed bylaw In Person: Municipal Hall at 37955 is to add convenience store, café and Second Avenue, Squamish, British coffee shop uses to the list of permitted Columbia, from January 1 to January accessory uses on the affected 13, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 lands, limit the size of these uses to p.m., Monday through Friday. a maximum of 100m2, and require Enquiries regarding the proposed a minimum of two on-site parking amendment bylaw may be made spaces per 100m2 for these uses. to the Planning Department at 604-815-5002 or by email to WHEN: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at planning@squamish.ca.

6:00 p.m.

This is the second of two notices.

WHERE: Council Chambers at Dated this 8 day of January, 2026, at Municipal Hall, 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia.

Squamish, B.C. Properties zoned Residential 1 (R-1) or Neighbourhood Civic (P-1) with frontage along The Boulevard, located between Skyline Drive and Perth Drive as shown on the Location Map.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 15

BUSINESS BEAT

TRAUMA COUNSELLOR USES ‘CALM SPACE’ TO HELP CLIENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR BODIES Trauma counsellor Raquel Nicolau is helping clients through scientific education about bodily responses

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.

INA PACE

ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

“O

ur bodies are wired for survival … it’s particular to every individual.”

Trauma counsellor Raquel Nicolau teaches her clients about their bodies, and their bodies’ natural reactions in traumatic situations—involuntary or otherwise—to help them heal.

She began her practice Raquel Nicolau Counselling in 2022, with a focus on nervous system regulation.

“I teach this to people so they understand, ‘OK, this is what’s happening to you; you’re not crazy, it’s normal. Your body is doing exactly what it needs to do to protect you,’” Nicolau said.

“The body remembers a threat … but it’s another thing overcoming that threat; doing the opposite of what your body wants. We need to trick our bodies, so to speak.”

Nicolau was a support worker in the “tight community” of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where she lived for seven years, before moving to Squamish in 2015 with her then three-year-old daughter.

“After becoming a mom, I needed a calm space. Nowadays [the Sea to Sky] is where I get calm, and my nervous system is calm,” she said.

“Nature is definitely one of the most grounding methods. It’s amazing that we live in such a beautiful place.”

Nicolau teaches her clients about complementary divisions of the nervous system, including the sympathetic nervous system— the stimulation of stress responses such as fight-or-flight—and the parasympathetic nervous system—the stimulation of energy during rest, or the ventral vagal state.

She explains, for example, that when cortisol, or stress levels, increase, you acquire more energy, which gives you the strength to run or escape from a situation.

The key to control this, she continues, is in regulation.

“If it’s regulated, you’re playful; you have the energy to do things,” she said.

Nicolau incorporates somatic exercises in her sessions to stimulate the vagus nerve.

She said training your mind and body this way is a little like going to the gym.

“You get stronger. You need to work. By talking about the nervous system on a regular basis, you calm the nervous system, and that muscle gets stronger.”

One somatic way to release trauma from the body is through literally shaking it off; your hands or legs for example.

The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news. To be considered, please reach out to news@squamishchief.com.

While funding for this coverage was provided, The Squamish Chief maintains full editorial control over all content.

Brought to you by Community Futures Howe Sound, The Sea to Sky’s resource for financing and free business support to help local businesses and entrepreneurs in the area.

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PHOTO BY BRITANY CSURKA

Trauma counsellor, Raquel Nicolau.

Exercises such as the “butterfly hug”— crossing your arms in front of your body and gently tapping your shoulders—is another.

Breath work is the most common example of Nicolau’s parasympathetic regulation. She helps clients focus on breathing outwards for longer than breathing inwards, as the most effective technique to overcome, for example, a panic attack.

Nicolau works hybridly and with a progressive approach.

She takes on a range of clients from across Canada, hosting online and in-person sessions for individuals and groups of up to 10 people, in a safe space of their choosing.

This could be within a rented space, or say, outside by the river on a summer’s day.

She assesses the clients’ individual needs according to their conversations with her, be that the need for weekly or monthly meetings.

Some clients have met regularly with Nicolau for a number of years.

Furthermore, as a breast cancer survivor, Nicolau shares knowledge and support for her clients who also have or have had cancer. “[It’s] something I’m starting to add to my repertoire that is close to my heart. We say it’s a club—not a club that people want to be in—but when you are a community, it’s a space, a support space.”

Folks can find links to Nicolau’s website and resources, registration for her sessions, and her blog via her Instagram page, @raquel. counselling.

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16 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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SQUAMISH PUNK NIGHT RELEASES SIXTH COMPILATION ALBUM The music promotion group is giving a leg up to unsigned Sea to Sky bands in showcasing local talent INA PACE

ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

M

usic promotion group Squamish Punk Night has released its sixth compilation album featuring various punk and punk-adjacent bands.

The compilation includes 19 bands, most of whom are unsigned, with eight being local Sea to Sky acts.

The others acts, which have played over the last year in the Sea to Sky, are namely from Vancouver and Ontario, or other countries such as the U.K, the U.S., Australia, and the Philippines (Last Reminisced Heroes, for example.)

Mortgage broker and band bass player Paul Hudson is the frontrunner of the Punk Night showcase, which he established in 2018, as well as the brain behind these compilations.

Hudson has placed the individual “complementary” tracks together from artists who worked with Punk Night last year, into what he considers “an audio journey,” celebrating the Sea to Sky punk scene, and its support.

“The compilations are avenues for a band to get their name out there, because punk rock has always been about collaboration and

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

Unicorn sculpture outside The Brackendale Art Gallery, designed by punk pioneer Jim Cummins (I, Braineater)

community,” he said.

“I want people to know that creative minds have space everywhere, no matter what background you come from.”

Hudson currently plays in four-piece band

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Tides Will Turn, and has played in bands such as Anonymericans (2018 - 2023) in the past; he is also a songwriter and avid punk fan, who was first drawn to punk rock in the 80s (and away from heavy metal) after finding a “vintage” Sex Pistols cassette in a bargain bin.

“Punk was just that much more raw and honest. They’re saying it like it is. They don’t mind that people may be taken aback by their approach to their music and their life,” he said.

“I just set on a mission to get everybody else into it, and then looking for other bands.”

Hudson said Dead On Arrival (D.O.A.) was one of the bands he came to work with, before discovering more underground “DIY bands” in Vancouver, and booking them for shows in Squamish.

Regarding the compilation’s sonic cohesion, Hudson interprets the artists’ music as “aggressive and angry.”

“Many of the artists are drawn to the Sea to Sky for its adventurous, high-intensity lifestyle, especially the extreme sports culture. People who seek that kind of environment often have big energy, big emotions, or ‘inner demons’ they’re trying to channel productively,” he said.

“That intensity naturally finds its way into the music. In many ways, the aggressive tone you hear may be a positive outlet.”

Hudson relayed his knowledge about the history of Squamish’s punk scene from the 70s.

Artist and punk pioneer Jim Cummins (his alias and band name being I, Braineater) built the unicorn sculpture at The Brackendale Art Gallery (The BAG), and also performed with Hudson’s Anonymericans. I, Braineater was a part of Vancouver’s first wave of punk in the 70s.

Squamish Punk Night’s sixth compilation is available to stream on Bandcamp only.

Hudson explained the streaming service business model was unanimously agreed with all the participating artists.

Unlike other streaming services, the artists will receive 85% commission, and if their music is purchased on Fridays, all proceeds go to the artist or the creator.

Regarding upcoming punk gigs in Squamish, Hudson said there are currently no official dates for 2026, but there will be many upcoming shows in the Sea to Sky. Phil Tifo at Heavy Phuzz is the booking agent for Squamish punk shows, who can be reached via Instagram.

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.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTH PARLIAMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

GOING PLACES: Local Kiana Alai was one of 97 youth from across B.C. who took part of the 96th British Columbia Youth Parliament at the Legislative Assembly from Dec. 27 to 31.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 17

WHO ARE THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT TOURISM SQUAMISH? At its recent Annual General Meeting, Tourism Squamish introduced its newly elected board of directors for the term spanning 2025 to 2026 AUNI DAYTON Youth reporter

T

he results are in. Tourism Squamish, a non-profit responsible for the marketing, service, and development of tourism in town, recently announced its new board of directors.

The non-profit is governed by 12 volunteer members of the board who will be representing the local tourism industry and community.

These members, who serve two year terms, are tasked with upholding the organization’s goals of governing themselves effectively and making the most of member engagement.

They hope to encourage the development of the local tourism industry, while simultaneously marketing Squamish to raise awareness and encourage visitors.

Their vision for the future is for Squamish to be recognized far and wide as the best mountain town in British Columbia, supporting the economy by bringing more visitors, according to the organization’s website.

They hope that our community will be well known for the unique experiences and opportunities, as well as our natural surroundings.

PHOTO BY HABESEN/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

The non-profit Tourism Squamish is governed by 12 volunteer members of the board who will be representing the local tourism industry and community.

The 2025 - 2026 board of directors is as follows: • Adrian Blachut of the Brackendale Art Gallery; • Anthony Lamb of Executive Suites Hotel & Resort; • Christina Metherall of Rise Mountain Adventures; • Jason Fullerton of the Cheakamus Centre; • Jeremy Roche of VentureWeb; • Ken Bailey of Squamish Canyon;

• Kirby Brown of Sea to Sky Gondola; • Matt Upton of The Broken Seal; • Rebecca McCleery of Canadian Coastal Sailing; • Rodney Wilson of Airhouse Sports Academy; • Shaun Veltkamp of The Hive MediaWorks; and • Toran Savjord of Capilano University.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM), where the board of directors was decided, had a large turnout and positive engagement.

In a press release, Tourism Squamish’s executive director Lesley Weeks stated, “The participation we saw [at the AGM] reflects how invested our visitor-facing community is in shaping the future of tourism in Squamish.

Involvement from businesses and new board members truly helps guide our direction and ensures our momentum moving forward.”

The non-profit also expressed its sincere gratitude to all of the previous and current board members for their hard work.

Before the board members were chosen at the AGM, Weeks spoke of the efforts and impacts of Tourism Squamish.

She also communicated her pride in the organization’s steps towards becoming a destination management operation, with an active role in the health and strength of our

community.

One of their strategies is to work cooperatively with community partners to help create a unique experience for visitors that preserves the natural beauty and culture of Squamish.

She believes that the strong community connections of the non-profit, paired with their focus on community focused projects has helped make the past year a defining one for Tourism Squamish.

She highlighted that Tourism Squamish has taken meaningful steps forward in many areas, including research, stewardship, marketing, and product improvement.

“We’ve taken major steps forward in our evolution into a Destination Management Organization—one that not only markets our community but actively supports its long-term health and resilience. With stronger partnerships, better data, and meaningful community-aligned initiatives, we’ve made tremendous progress across research, product development, stewardship, marketing, and member value,” she said.

“It’s been a transformative year, and it sets a powerful foundation for what’s next.”

Auni Dayton is a Squamish teen and The Squamish Chief’s youth intern.

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18 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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BLUESBERRY JAM SHOWBAND CELEBRATE 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH UPCOMING GIG The eclectic ‘superband’ will celebrate 30 years on Feb. 7 at Trickster’s Hideout

I’ve been musical my whole life, but I never dreamt of heading a band with that level of energy in a million years.

I would have never guessed that I even had that in me.

INA PACE

ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

I

n the ever-evolving world of Bluesberry Jam Showband, a decade is considered “new.”

That is according to its members, some of whom have been playing in the band for multiple decades, yet are not original members.

Regardless of origin, the old and new are coming together to celebrate “a long time” making music, with a gig at Trickster’s Hideout on Feb. 7.

The gig will mark the band’s 30th anniversary: their journey, and their impact within the Sea to Sky community.

Bluesberry Jam is a celebration of complementary eclecticism: multi-genre covers from classics to contemporary, sung and played by a continuous and reflective turnover of all-age musicians, including those who return from years or months away.

The band’s initial blues ensemble has evolved into a music kaleidoscope of jazz, R&B, and rock ’n’ roll over the years.

SUBSCRIBE

LIESL PETERSEN

PHOTO BY INA PACE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

Bluesberry Jam’s 30th Anniversary Celebration will take place at Trickster’s Hideout (38005, Cleveland Ave.) at 7 p.m.

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This has been developed by founders Keith Junkin, “Papa” Woody Woodridge and Antti Makitalo since 1996.

“Bluesberry Jam seeks to honour a genre of music that is at the root of nearly every radio hit ever released,” their website reads.

Current members are Rita Kyle, Liesl Petersen and Samantha Sinanan on vocals, Makitalo on guitar, Brian Marchant on bass, Chad Hooper on drums, Petersen also on trombone, Stan Thomson on alto sax, Natasha Beaulac on tenor sax and also vocals, and Richard Harley on trumpet.

Woodridge was the original lead singer until around the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst Makitalo remained the band’s “OG,” as he described himself during a rehearsal on Dec. 10, for a gig on Dec. 13, at Sound & Soul Studios.

This was the first time in a couple of months that the band had been together as a whole, according to Sinanan.

Petersen said the pandemic is when the female vocalists took over. She said that Woodridge didn’t want to sing Aretha Franklin’s “chauvinistic” Respect, and suggested she do so instead.

“That was when [Bluesberry Jam] discovered I could sing, and I started doing vocals for them as well,” Petersen said.

“I’ve been musical my whole life, but I never dreamt of heading a band with that level of energy in a million years. I would have never guessed that I even had that in me.”

Petersen, who has played the trombone since she was 12 years old, was recruited around 11 years ago from SeaT’Sky Big Band to Bluesberry Jam’s then new horn section, which already consisted of saxophone and trumpet.

She said that as the horn and vocal sections expanded further since the pandemic, Bluesberry Jam has become “the superband that it is now.”

The Brackendale Art Gallery (The BAG) has been Bluesberry Jam’s consistent venue over the years. Using Trickster’s Hideout as the upcoming venue for the band’s 30th anniversary is significant to Petersen.

She is the venue’s co-owner alongside her husband, Allen Edwards. She said Trickster’s was a project they put together to try to create more band-friendly music venue spaces in Squamish.

“It’s supposed to be a really versatile kind of space, but it often gets pigeon-holed into a nightclub, because that’s what it’s been historically, and that’s what people know it as,” Petersen said.

Petersen said she first moved to Squamish for the surrounding nature, describing how she had “burst into tears” upon seeing Mount Garibaldi and Stawamus Chief for the first time, and yet she had not known then about the extent of the “very high calibre of musicians in town.”

Bluesberry Jam’s 30th Anniversary Celebration will take place at Trickster’s Hideout (38005, Cleveland Ave.) at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at trickstershideout.ca for $10 - 20.

Sinanan said she hopes special guests will make an appearance, including the band’s alumni.

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.

squamishchief.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 19

‘THERE’S ONE!’: BIRDERS TURN OUT FOR RECORD EAGLE COUNT

From children scanning treetops to veteran Squamish birders, the Brackendale Winter Eagle Count delivered its highest total in nearly two decades LIZ MCDONALD

emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca

F

ingers red from the cold, rain beading and running down their jackets, Luisa Nitrato-Izzo and Chris Laundy walked slowly along Eagle Run dike with their three children, eyes trained on the treetops.

“There’s one!” Rocco Laundy called out, pausing to watch the raptor circle closer overhead. As it passed, the family debated what they saw—a white head or a brown one—adult or juvenile.

They were taking part in the 2026 Brackendale Winter Eagle Count, an annual tradition that draws volunteers outdoors on the first Sunday after New Year’s Day to tally bald eagles across Squamish. The event was organized by Nature Squamish.

The family of five was among 57 counters spread across 20 different areas, searching by foot, raft and, in some years, snowshoes.

Volunteers covered more than 64 kilometres, from the Elaho Valley to downtown Squamish, and from Paradise Valley to the Stawamus River.

Now in its 40th year, the count began when a small group of birders gathered in Brackendale as part of a coordinated, provincewide bald eagle count in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund.

Along the Eagle Run dike, Nitrato-Izzo said her children’s interest in wildlife extends well beyond the day’s count. At home, they monitor a trail camera that’s captured everything from bears and cougars to mice.

“They’ve been brought up to love nature and be in nature a lot, just like most kids, I think, in Squamish,” she said of her sons, Rocco, Orson and Sacha.

The morning started quietly, with only the occasional eagle cutting through a steely grey sky. But as the hours passed, sightings became more frequent. Eagles began appearing in groups, and Rocco counted eagerly, quickly surpassing the 15 birds his group had expected to see.

Across Squamish, other counters were experiencing the same surprise.

BEST YEAR SINCE 2007 Before and after the count, volunteers gathered at the Brackendale Art Gallery to check in with fellow birders, learn where others were searching and reconnect with their assigned groups.

By day’s end, 1,397 bald eagles had been spotted, according to Christopher Di Corrado, a coordinator and former board member of the Brackendale Eagle Count.

“I was surprised, because a lot of people thought it was going to be pretty quiet this year,” he said. “We had 767 adults, 618 immature and 12 that were unclassified.”

PHOTOS BY LIZ MCDONALD/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

Families came together to search for eagles during the annual count on Sunday.

Unclassified birds are those spotters couldn’t clearly identify as eagles.

It was the highest count recorded since 2007.

Eagle numbers in Squamish have generally declined since the 1980s, and environmental factors can heavily influence how many birds appear each year. Bald eagles are often used as an indicator of salmon health, and Di Corrado said he was uncertain what this year would bring after extreme rainfall caused widespread flooding in the fall.

“On top of that, this year, there’s a debris slide across the road up near the Mud Creek area,” he said, noting that could affect salmon passage.

Di Corrado thanked volunteers, the Brackendale Art Gallery and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) for allowing counters to access their land. While the count isn’t used directly for research or policy, he said it plays an important role in community engagement.

“It’s a really good way to engage with the public and educate people about the environment, about the eagles in the area, and get people out and enjoying areas around Squamish as well.”

A COMMUNITY BUILDER For some participants, the count has become a winter ritual.

Glenne Campbell said she’s been attending for “too many years to remember.”

“I started out, for argument’s sake, in 2010, if not before then. I walked into the [Brackendale Art Gallery] and Thor knew me and said, ‘Glenne, you’re on the rafts,’” she said, referring to former gallery owner, the late Thor Froslev.

She climbed aboard and kept coming back, rafting in all kinds of winter conditions.

“It was a blast,” she said. “Every winter, the rivers and surrounding areas were so incredibly different. We’d be on a river in pouring rain, or one year it snowed and by the time we were done we’d have eight inches of snow in our hats.

Other years were bluebird—one year the hoar frost was four inches long. It’s a real sight to

behold.”

Jason Bigelow, who has taken part for between five and 10 years, said the count offers a chance to reconnect with people and places from earlier chapters of his life when he worked at the Cheakamus Centre.

“Seventeen years ago I first met them and walked through those trails together, and I was having like a reflection moment of how we’re

still gathering in the same land and doing work that we were trying to contribute to our community together,” he said.

“It’s cool—that continuity and the way things change. None of us work there anymore, but we all have pieces of our heart that live there.”

For those interested in joining next year’s count, it takes place on the first Sunday after New Year’s Day.

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20 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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ANTHILL FILMS PRESENTS NEW JACKSON GOLDSTONE DOCUMENTARY

‘The Search for Milliseconds’ documents Goldstone’s 2025 season, where he clinched a World Championship and the World Cup downhill overall

DAVID SONG

dsong@lodestarmedia.ca

J

ackson Goldstone had a 2025 to remember.

Win a World Championship? Done. Tie Aaron Gwin’s record of four straight World Cup downhill triumphs (and fall 1.2 seconds short of a fifth)? You bet. Earn an overall World Cup title on Canadian soil? Roger that—and he’s just 21 years old.

It wasn’t just a comeback after losing most of 2024 to a serious knee injury. It was a yearlong run of dominance that put the mountain biking world on notice, and Anthill Films has chronicled the story in their latest project: “The Search for Milliseconds.”

Goldstone himself is well aware of how small the margins of victory can be in his sport. “It’s incredible this year, how tight the times were. I think the tightest one was my winning run in Leogang, [Austria]…0.05 seconds apart,” he said. “Those little tenths of a second here and there—I think we did the math and it was a few inches.”

Anthill raked in a Sports Emmy this June for its previous movie, Anytime, and they’re pleased to follow up with a film representing Squamish: a place both the company and Goldstone himself grew up in. Co-founder and director of photography Colin Jones assembled his team, following the young phenom throughout his campaign from pre-season testing to that final dramatic race in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. “It’s many years in the making in terms of seeing him grow, then seeing his success … and then him being plagued with injury,” remarked Jones. “[Winning in Mont-SainteAnne] was extra special for Jackson. Even just chatting with him about it: ‘this was the top of the top,’ he said. Outside of being Canadian, it’s such a legendary track—the longest-standing World Cup track and there isn’t [a race there] next year.

“It was an intensified, important race in terms of the moment. He just absorbed all that pressure and was able to do his run. One other thing: the legacy of who he looked up to. The late, great Stevie Smith had won there. It was quite an important moment in his career, and it was to all of us as Canadians. Then Finn Iles did it just a few years ago. Jackson wanted to be on that list as well.”

PHOTO BY COLIN JONES

Jackson Goldstone won the World Cup downhill overall in 2025, and his season is chronicled in “The Search for Milliseconds” by Anthill Films.

‘A KID WHO GREW UP AND MET HIS GOALS’ The Anthill team didn’t want to present Goldstone’s exploits in Mont-Sainte-Anne the way most outlets would cover downhill mountain biking. Instead they wanted to bring a fresh angle, capturing the buildup and intensity of race day.

That meant waking up at about 5 a.m. and heading to the top of the course, watching event staff install the start gate and volunteers obtain their radios by daybreak’s light.

In so doing, Jones and his colleagues observed the latent energy associated with a World Cup finale. Impromptu sound bites from other riders also helped contextualize the moment beyond numbers and results.

It wouldn’t have materialized without the help of bike suspension manufacturer Fox Factory Holding Corp. and its race department manager Jordi Cortes. According to

Jones, Cortes’ calm demeanour and wealth of experience was key for uncovering the relationships and engineering feats behind a winning season.

“It’s important for the viewers to see that [Jackson’s] just a normal kid who has these dreams and ambitions,” Jones said. “Things out of your control can happen, and we wanted to—for good or bad, win or loss— have [the Mont-Sainte-Anne event on camera] because the story is there either way.

“I think you’re going to learn a true Canadian story. You’ll learn about Jackson as a kid who grew up in the Sea to Sky corridor with those dreams. He started off in freeride but his interest went into racing, and then he just covered all his bases in terms of learning the sport. It’s a cool story of a kid who grew up and met his goals.”

“The Search for Milliseconds” is available now on Red Bull TV.

It’s many years in the making in terms of seeing him grow, then seeing his success … and then him being plagued with injury.

COLIN JONES

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Georgina (Georgie) St. Laurent Oct. 5, 1923 – Dec. 25, 2025 Evergreen House, North Vancouver Georgina (nee Pelican) was born in Czechoslovakia, and immigrated to Canada with her parents and brother when in Saskatchewan, where Georgina lived until the age of 17. From there she moved to find work in Winnipeg, and spent most of the War years in that city. In her early 20’s she moved to Vancouver and met and married Lawrence (Laurie) St. Laurent.

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Georgina is predeceased by her husband, Laurie and her daughter, Rene. She is survived by her son Cary St. Laurent; her daughter Jill Curtis (Paul); Granddaughters,

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APRES-SKI AVALANCHE BASE LAYER BINDINGS BLACK DIAMOND CARVING CHAIR DROP

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22 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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RENT

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FIX

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SHOP

CLASSIFIEDS.SQUAMISHCHIEF.COM

squamishchief.com

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFIEDS.SQUAMISHCHIEF.COM

PLAY HERE FT. Competitive Salary & Benefits. 2yrs+ kitchen man‐ agement experience.

Oversee kitchen operations including: batch cooking for 40- 130, menu creation, hir‐ ing, ordering, scheduling, managing team. Experience with special diets.

Job osted at

BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY

PROFESSIONALISM

» squamishchief.jobfind.findem.ca » squamishchief.jobfind.findem.ca

SAFETY

STRONG WORK ETHIC

Employee Health & Wellness Plan available HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR – Minimum 5 years or 5,000 hours operating experience on excavator. Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$46 per hour.

CONSTRUCTION LABOURER – Great opportunity to learn on-thejob. Stamina for physically demanding work and perseverance to brave inclement weather required. Previous experience preferred but not required.

Training provided. $28-$33 per hour.

PIPE LAYER – Minimum 5 years experience in civil construction.

Full-time, Monday – Friday. $33-$43 per hour.

TRUCK DRIVER – BCDL Class 1 or Class 3 with air brakes required.

Manual transmission. 2 years experience preferred. $35-$41.50 per hour.

CRUSHING & EARTHWORKS MANAGER – Must have experience with civil construction. $33-$46 per hour.

Y APPL

BOOK YOUR EVENT IN THE SQUAMISH CHIEF’S ONLINE EVENT CALENDAR FOR FREE!

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HOROSCOPE WEEK OF JAN 8, 2026 - JAN 14, 2026

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Antlered animal 5. Cherry stone 8. Egg on 12. Ballerina’s skirt 13. “Bells ____ Ringing” 14. Other 15. Picnic visitors 16. Raised border 17. Mounted on a peg 18. Fishing necessity 19. Deadly reptile 20. Small boys 21. Soft throw 23. “____ on a Grecian Urn” 25. Type of antelope 27. 2,000 pounds 29. Attempt again 33. Give help to 34. Island greeting 36. Hole in a needle

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 | 23

37. Dust particle 39. Obscure 40.Tennis do-over 41. One, to a marcher 43. Huron or George 45. “____ Velvet” 48. Building shape 50. Track shape 53. Green citrus fruit 54. Kettle’s kin 55. Ready to pick 56. Mischievous children 57. Amateur’s opposite 58. On the Pacific 59. Sit for a photo 60. Nope’s opposite 61. Geek

3. Feeling 4. Zest 5. Sunshade 6. Spring bloom 7. Musical pace 8. Love seat 9. Not guilty, e.g.

10. Consumed 11. Ruby and rose 22. Pointed stick 24. Theatrical work 25. Cooking fuel 26. Quick bite 28. Bow the head 30. Show on the tube 31. Deli bread 32. Still 35. Mound’s summit 38. Fondue need 42. Energetic 44.Muslim holy book 45. Radar dot 46. Luxury auto 47. Refs’ kin 49. Folk legends 51. Impersonator 52. Be in front Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling

ARIES March 21-April 19

Your health remains a priority this week. Your doctor may finally determine the cause of your discomfort and recommend a treatment to speed up your recovery. If you trust their expertise, you’ll notice a big improvement in your well-being.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

You’ll have to act as a mediator at work or in your personal life.

Your diplomatic skills will help you ease tensions and find effective solutions, whether you’re handling a union dispute or dissatisfied customers.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Work is piling up, and messages are coming in nonstop. However, you’ll catch up by doubling down on your efforts. At home, you’ll also put a lot of your energy into maintaining a clean and tidy living space.

CANCER June 21-July 22

You’ll be congratulated for your accomplishments, and your success will earn you widespread admiration. This recognition will fill you with a deep sense of personal pride and boost your confidence. You’ll feel

empowered to fearlessly tackle any project.

it’s simply pausing to admire a work that inspires you.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Since you couldn’t see all your loved ones over the holidays, a wonderful opportunity to get together is on the horizon. You’re doing a great job at work and at home, even if some people prove to be difficult to please despite your best efforts.

If your career path feels uncertain, you could have a revelation that will light the way and guide you in the right direction. A loved one may ask for your help, giving you the chance to offer meaningful support.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

With the festivities behind you, it’s time to get back into a routine. However, you’ll manage to keep an active social life, both in person and on social media. Just remember to set aside time for rest.

You’ll feel a strong urge to talk and communicate with others. Whether you’re sharing holiday memories or family stories, your words will flow freely. At work, your sociability will help you reach particularly good agreements.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

A touch of refinement will brighten your world. You may unexpectedly be offered a promotion at work. However, this advancement may bring with it added stress, fatigue and moments of confusion.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Your energy is magnetic and will draw the attention of others. You’ll express your creativity brilliantly or find real joy in appreciating art, even if

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Amid professional changes, you’ll be asked to step into a role where your skills will produce outstanding results. At home, you’ll take the initiative to start a major clean-up involving the whole family.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

You’ll feel a strong urge to get away from it all and plan a holiday, whether alone or with your partner, to an exotic destination or a cozy chalet. Your social life will also get a boost this week.

SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Each 3 x 3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3 x 3 box.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS:

DOWN 1. Random guess 2. Yellowfin, e.g.

The Parish of

YOUR PLACE OF

St. John , the Divine 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

Exalting Jesus, Equipping His Followers, Engaging the World

Worship Service Sundays 10am on our website and Facebook Live

See Website for Service times and location

2262ReadCres.

604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org

coastalchurch.org/squamish

Share your PLACE OF WORSHIP with Squamish for $10.25/week - Call today to book your spot 604.892.9161

24 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

squamishchief.com

ABATEMENT SERVICES

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

HOME HEALTHCARE

ASBESTOS BC Abatement Services

Home Healthcare ■ Bracing ■ Mobility Aids ■ Wheelchairs

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HOME RENOVATION & CONSTRUCTION

Your Trusted Healthcare Partners for over 50 years ■ Grab Bars ■ Hospital Beds ■ Rental Equipment

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• Connected • Prepared • Hardworking

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RIDE SERVICES

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Mountain Burger House

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Reliable rides with local drivers.

WEEKEND CHINESE STYLE BUFFET Friday 5pm – 7-pm 604-892-5544 38198 Cleveland Ave., Squamish BC • V8B 0B4

Local Ride Service in Squamish

Book on-demand or schedule ahead for airport transfers, Sea-to-Sky trips, early mornings, medical appointments, and adventure travel with gear.

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