July 31, 2025

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THURSDAY,JULY31,2025

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FINDING JODI

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SQUAMISH NATION AND DISTRICT SIGN HISTORIC MOU FOR RECONCILIATION

‘We all live here. We’re not going away.’ Those words from Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams captured the spirit behind a new agreement

INA PACE, JENNIFER THUNCHER news@squamishchief.com

It is another historic step toward reconciliation.

On July 22,Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the District of Squamish celebrated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). With Nation and District representatives arriving by canoe, transported on a flat-bed truck due to high winds that made water travel unsafe, the signing ceremony took place atSp’akw’us Feather Park on the Squamish oceanfront

Dignitaries gathered for the occasion, Nation councillor and spokesperson Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford, members of both councils, District and Nation staff, and Elders, among others.

MOU: Continued on2

PHOTO BY INA PACE/ THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

HOWE SOUND RESCUERS: Members of Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) Station 4, Squamish, pose at Squamish Harbour. Left to right: Heidi Specht, Kelly Dean, Danielle Samels, Helen Honig, and Will Turner The Squamish Chief joined this crew from thenon-profit volunteer organization on Howe Sound to learn more about what they do and how they train. See the full story and video at squamishchief.com.

MOUs are non-binding agreements between entities, like governments and Nations, that are based on moral or political commitments. They signal shared aims of working together on aligned goals.

‘A HUGE DAY’

“Today wasa huge day for all of us,” said Williams in an interview with The Squamish Chief after the ceremony.

“Speaking on behalf of the Squamish Nation people—a very historic day for us. We’re in anew realm of this relationship with the District of Squamish. We all live here. We’re all not going away. We come to a place beyond the challenges and historical missteps, or overlooking things. We really looked at how we can move forward together, and how we could pave the way for a stronger communityhere, as we all live together.”

The MOU between the Nation and the District outlines six priority activities that “respond to past and ongoing injustices, while promoting a more inclusive and co-operative future,” according to ajointnews release.

“These include the District’s formal recognitionof the impacts of colonizationon the Sḵwxwú7mesh People and a community-based truth-telling process that will culminate in a public apology.”

The apology will be from the District to the Nation and one that “acknowledges the impacts of colonization and settlement on the Sḵwxwú7mesh People, lands and waters,” reads a release.

Over thenext three years, the MOU commits both governments to:

• Holding council-to-council meetings at least twicea year.

• Co-developinga referrals management agreement, which recognizes Squamish Nation jurisdiction and involvement in decisions on land use, infrastructure, and development.

• Aligning land use and community planning processes, such as the renewal of the District’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Squamish Valley Community Development Plan (SVCDP), led by Squamish Nation

• Establishing a joint Land Back Task Force to explore pathways for the return or co-management of public lands.

The agreement also includes a commitment to pause any development on Brackendale Farmers Institute Park while the governments explore the potential transfer of this Crown land to the Nation.

DISCUSSIONS ARE ABOUT PUBLIC, NOT PRIVATE LANDS

Hurford clarified that land back discussions are about public—not any private—lands.

“This is about public lands, and that can mean any number of things, and we’re trying to figure out what that is. The way to do that is to work collaboratively with our friends at the Nation to really establish what the landscape of that looks like.”

The agreement ensures continued public access to parks and green spaces while exploring co-management opportunities.

In terms of access to recreation, the agreement aims to open up barrier-free access for all. In time, there is a plan to provideSḵwxwú7mesh individuals with access to District recreational facilities and programs at a reduced cost.

Though the MOU is not legally binding, progress will be monitored through oversight committees and council-to-council meetings.

‘SYNERGIES ARE UNITING’

“TheSḵwxwú7mesh People have lived on these beautiful lands for thousands of years, and it is integral that we are recognized both as a part of its history, and as a key decision-maker in planning its future,” Williams said, in the joint release.

“The MOU is a significant step forward in ensuring both We look forward to strengthening our relationship withthe District of Squamish

step today.”

Hurford said the agreement is also an invitation to the rest of the community to join the journey toreconciliation.

“This MOU is thenext important step in our journey with the Squamish Nation, and it is also an invitation to our community to work alongside us to advance reconciliation in action,” he said.

“It reflects and furthers work already happening across Squamish, builds on the 2023 Wa Iyi m taSḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish Strong Protocol Agreement) and reaffirms our commitment to walk this path alongside Squamish Nation. This agreement is founded on trust, recognizing shared values, and working to address historical wrongs in very tangible ways to create a stronger future together for all of us.”

As for next steps, public information and collaboration sessions, along with other public engagement opportunities, will take place in the coming months, “offering space to learn, ask questions, and help shape implementation,” the release states.

“This signifies the continuation of work, and it is something that the entire community will need to educate themselves on,” Hurford said “It’s an entire community.”

This is the second historic agreement signed in Squamish in as many months.

and collaborating in meaningful ways that will make Squamish a more vibrant and inclusive place for all.”

In the interview after the ceremony, Williams stressed the mutual respect established withthe District.

“We’re still struggling as Indigenous peoples to integrate in Western society ways of being, but we’re more empowered now because we’re carrying our culture so proudly that it is not hidden anymore. We’re allowed to share our language, practice, ceremony, be amongst people, show it off. This reclamation and revitalization, we’re doing it together,” he said

“The synergies are uniting. And this was a big

On June 26, a signing ceremony was held at the Sea–to–Sky Gondola to mark the signing of a Land Use Agreement between the Nation and the provincial government That agreement sees 20,000 hectares of Crown land in the Squamish area returned to the Nation.

More details and opportunities to engage in this MOU process with the District and Nation will be available in the coming months. Watch boththe Squamish Nation and the District’s websites for more information.

InaPace is The Squamish Chief’s Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada.

PHOTO BY INA PACE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Officials arrive at the ceremony.

NEWS BRIEFS

BURNABY DRIVER CLOCKED AT 194 KM/H

If you want to pull over somebody for speeding, you have to be able to match their speed.

That’s why Sea to Sky highway patrol is using high-powered BMW R1200 motorcycles to nab joy riders, includinga Burnaby resident who shrieked by Lions Bay at over 100 kilometres above the speed limit around 11 p.m. on July 17.

“We’ve been doing it up and down the corridor, putting more emphasis on police motorcycles lately. Speeders don’t realize we can get to them really quickly and prevent them from getting hurt. We’re really trying to get the word out there that we’re focused on enforcement because we’re tired of dealing withthese horrible collisions,” BC Highway Patrol media relations officer Michael McLaughlin told The Squamish Chief.

The corridor is well-known as being a magnet forjoy riders, and the police’s policy is not to engage in pursuits, which is why many of the traditional cruisers are not always best suited for the task But by utilizinga two-person team that sets up a speed trap using long-distance lasers, they canidentify speeders from far away and arrange to intercept them withthe bike

“This particular type of motorcycle can track them down so much more quickly and safely than theolder,heavier cruisers that may take more time to catch up,” he said.

“Our laser has tremendous range, and with good sight lines, we’ll see the speeder long before they come to us, then pull out to get them.”

On July 17, the Burnaby resident was drivinga blue BMW M3 coupe that was clocked going 194 km/hr in an 80-zone.

No additional offences were noted, and police believe the driver was motivated by

thrill-seeking behaviour.

“The Sea to Sky Corridor is known for people with higher-powered motorcycles and vehicles going forjoy rides, and we’re very conscious of reducing that dangerous behaviour,” McLaughlin said.

The driver received:

•A ticket for excessive speed (more than 60 km/h) with a fine of $483 under section 148(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act;

• A seven-day impound;

• The bill for the tow, the impound and any subsequent ICBC licensing and insurance penalties.

There have been a high number of fatalities in recent weeks on BC highways, and excessive speed is almost always a factor, according to McLaughlin.

“Our officers would muchrather give you a ticket, tow and impound rather than have to tell your family that you’re not coming home.”

TRAGEDY ON THE WATER

It wasa tragic start to the weekend on Friday

Squamish RCMP say that on July 25, in the afternoon, a man was located unresponsive in the Squamish River where it meets the Cheakamus River, west of the Squamish Municipal Airport.

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and Squamish Search and Rescue located the man and initiated life-saving measures; however, he did not survive, police said in a news release.

BCEHS told The Squamish Chief that the agency received a call at 11:58 a.m. July 25, about a person in need of medical assistance on the Squamish River near the Cheakamus River.

“An ambulance with primary care paramedics and an advanced care paramedic response unit responded to the scene.

GOT NEWS?

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

No patients were transported to hospital,” said BCEHS spokesperson Bowen Osoko.

Based on the information received, the RCMP said that two individuals were operating personal watercrafts on the river when they became separated.

“Upon relocating the second rider, the first individual found him unresponsive with his [life-jacket] keeping him afloat and pulled him to shore,” police said.

Squamish RCMP will be working with BC Coroners Service to determine the circumstances surrounding the death; however, based on the initial information, it is believed to be a medical event.

The BC Coroners Service said it is investigating, but had no further information to add.

BUSY SARWEEK

Although the summer season is typically the busiest for Squamish Search and Rescue (SSAR) volunteers, this year has proven even more demanding so far.

As of the end of day Sunday, July 27, the local agency had fielded 76 callouts so far this year, versus 67 the same time last yearand 60 the year prior, according to Nils Robinson, a SSAR manager

This represents an increase of approximately 15%.

Between Thursday, July 24 and Saturday, July 26, rescuers were called out 11 times.

From Friday night to Sunday night, they were called out five times.

Robinson said most of the calls were for people with injuries.

“And a lot of them were high acuity calls,” Robinson added, meaning that the injuries were serious or more complex.

The injured and those withthem did the right thing in handling their emergency, according to Robinson.

“They all made the right choice in calling

forhelp early and staying where they were untilhelp arrived,”he said

The types of activities leading to injuries varies, Robinson said.

“We saw an uptick in mountain bike calls over the prior weeks, likely as a result of the temperatures moderating and more people getting out to ride again after the very hot weather,”he said.

A larger SAR facility will help

Anew base is being built for Squamish SAR near the airport, and Robinson noted the larger facility will especially help when the team is faced with such high call volumes.

“Thenew base will help us greatly with gearand vehicle management and allow us torespond quicker,” he said. “Our current location is a bit small for our needs and requires us to movevehicles around Thursday night was an extra challenge as our older rescue truck was out for urgent maintenance for the week andnecessitated having to pull together the required gear for the technical response from our stored cache. Usually, it is all on board the rescue truck and ready to go.”

SSAR’s lease for its current base near Brennan Park ends in July 2026 and the aim is to have the organization moved into the first phase of thenew base in the spring of 2026

Call early

As for the August long weekend coming up, Robinson said the advice for the many who will be heading outdoors in the Sea to Sky Corridor includes following the three Ts: trip planning, training and taking the essentials. “Call 911, call early and then stay put until rescuers arrive,” he added. “Also, know that SAR will be trying to contact you via the method you called forhelp So answer your phone, respond to our texts and if using a satellite SOS feature to call forhelp, check for messages regularly.”

HOW DANGEROUS ARE MOSQUITO BITES IN THE SEA TO SKY? HEALTH OFFICIAL WEIGHS IN

After four people became seriously ill from mosquito bites last year, health authorities have launcheda new surveillance project across the Sea to Sky region

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief.com

So, how worried should we be about those pesky mosquitoes that nibble on us while we enjoy the Sea to Sky outdoors?

Last week,news broke that Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Public Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control had launched a small-scale mosquito surveillance pilot project in the Sea to Sky region after four people became seriously ill from bites from the insects last year.

The four patients, who had all been in the Sea to Sky when they were bitten, contracted California Serogroup (CSG) viruses—specifically Snowshoe Hare Virus (SSHV) and Jamestown Canyon Virus(JCV)—and came down with encephalitis, which is a swelling of the brain.

Thehealth authorities, with support from Lílwat Nation, Squamish Nation and the University of B.C., are undertaking the study

to better understand the local mosquito population and the viruses they carry.

The Squamish Chief caught up with Dr Moliehi Khaketla, Sea to Sky medicalhealth officer with Vancouver Coastal Health to find out more.

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

Q: Looking at the four people who became sick last year with encephalitis, was there any extra vulnerability in terms of age? Were there more children, adults or a mix who became ill?

A: When we talk abouta small number, like four cases, particularly those that are localized within a small geographic area, for privacy reasons, we’re very careful to be able to provide enough information, but not so much information that it risks potentially invading their privacy. So, we’re providinga general description in that these are people who had spent time within the Sea to Sky region And when we investigated further, we were able to ascertain from knowing when they would have likely acquired the infection based on their presentation, that they had spent a significant amount of time outdoors.

Q:I understand that. So,I guess the question is, should parents be more worried about kids, or should we be more worried about the elderly or adults?

A: The messaging that we’re sending to the

public is really targeted at the entire population, so from children all the way to adult populations, because this type of illness can impact young children as well as adults There isn’ta specific target population with this message, except for the entire population, really.

Q: In terms of the protection measures, which mosquito repellents are most effective?

A: There area lot of different brands out there, people may be confused about what to pick or not, so there’s good information on the HealthLinkBC website. In the list of ingredients, we generally look for DEET, specifically, which is effective in terms of an appropriate repellent of these mosquitoes

For the little ones under the age of six months, obviously, any DEET containing product would not be appropriate, and so guardians should protect them while in strollers with netting, for example.

Q: We’rea very active outdoor community. How concerned should we be about this?

A: Really, it is a balance. We know that being outdoors, being active, particularly within the beautiful Sea to Sky region, is so important for physical health as well as mental health and well-being And so we encourage that All we’re saying from a public health perspective, based on the information that we know so far, is we just want people to be aware that as they’re recreating outdoors to make sure that they’re taking the appropriate precautions, particularly during those times when mosquitoes are most active during the summer months—from now until usually into October or so.

We don’t want people to be alarmed and want to stay indoors.

It’s just being practical and being aware and prevention, prevention, prevention. Not just in terms of insect repellent, but also things like wearing protective clothing, andI think particularly for people with little ones, if you’re going for an evening walk, make sure you put that mosquito net over the baby stroller. And then there’s doing some of the practical things around our homes, including making sure that we don’t have standing water where mosquitoes could breed in our backyard Making sure that we remember to put our screens on our windows. Things that prevent contact with mosquitoes, which may be carrying different types of viruses.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF There are an assortment of repellents available locally.

Continued from4

Q: Why was it a year before the public heard about this?A lot of us had mosquito bites already when thenews came out.

A: It’s a little bit of a complicated answer, because we actually did, at the time, make ourhealth-care providers aware that this was something that we’re starting to see. They knew that they needed to be thinking about it if they saw people presenting with an unusual presentation that may be linked to encounters with mosquitoes So, that information did go out.

Then, following that, there didneed to be a bit of co-ordination to ensure that we were well positioned to be able to have the pieces in place to study what was happening further.

The timing actually worked out well now that wewere able to get all the partners together and then be able to have this plan for setting out the traps, have the labs co-ordinated. And then now, as the weather is getting warmer, this is a good time for us to be communicating this more broadly. I will add that since those cases were identified late last year, so far this year, we have not had any cases reported So I think that helps put things into perspective as well.

Q: How extensive is the trapping and testing?

A: To determine where to put the traps, we relied on guidance from the

communities. I mentioned the partnership that includes the Lil’wat Nation as well as the Squamish Nation. We relied on that local knowledge to help guide our placement of the trapping, but we also wanted to geta good range right across the corridor And so we’ve targeted communities all the way from Pemberton to Squamish, where we’ve strategically placed these traps, to really geta good sense of where the mosquitoes are and to see if there’sa difference between communities, for example, in terms of the counts.

That’s just one aspect, and then the other aspect would be testing them, and then figuring out what species they are, as well as the different pathogens that they may be carrying. It’s quite an interesting step-by-step process that we’re following that’ll give us a good sense right across the corridor about what’s happening.

Q: And it’s early days,I imagine? Have there been any infected mosquitoes tested already?

A: It is still early in the project. We’re continuing right until the end of August, which is the peak mosquito time, and then following that, our partners with the expertise at the university, as well as the lab, will be doing that testing and then the counting, as well

So, it’ll be several months before we know more. And then, based on that information, that’ll inform any additional

communication that happens with the public about what’s happening,

Q: Can you go over again what people should watch for in terms of symptoms of illness?

A: For most people who may get bitten and get infected, they may not even know it It’s usuallya very mild illness, or they could have no symptoms at all, and then there’ll be a proportionof people who get bitten, and within maybe five days or so of mosquito bites, up to about two weeks, they may developa mild illness, and that could presenta flu-like illness, where they have a fever or fatigue or headache, they may feela bit nauseous and they may have some vomiting, and usually that’ll last a few days, and then it’ll resolve without any need for medical attention. And then, on the other end of the spectrum, a smaller proportion of patients may present with severe illness, typically presenting with neurological symptoms, indicating that there might be an infection within the brain.

And so those ones would be things like a severeheadache that doesn’t go away, a fever, neck stiffness, confusion, and not looking well And then for children in particular, things like seizures can happen as well And so those are the types of things that would be red flags that would warrant people seeking medical care.

Q: And these aren’t new viruses, correct?

A: Yes, these are notnew infections in the province. What prompted us to take a closer look was the number of cases that we saw within a short amount of time in the corridor, as well as the severity of illness that presented. So even though it wasa small number—four is nota lot—if you look at going back a number of years, from 2009 until 2024, we had only had 10 cases reported in the province And two of those had been within Vancouver Coastal Health And so really it was the cluster within a short amount of time, and the severity of illness that prompted us to look into this further. But these are notnew, not in B.C., and also not in Canada. There have been many, many reported cases, mostly in eastern provinces, but also in Alberta, Saskatchewan, most of Quebec and Ontario.

Q: Anything else you’d like us to stress that you’ve seen come up since the announcement went out that maybe isn’t getting through to people?

A: This is just really a message for people to be aware and take precautions. If they do get sick, they should seek health care, similar to how they would with any other illness. And really, it’s an exciting opportunity to learn about what is happening with the mosquito population within the corridor, and then once we know more, we’ll be ready to share as well.

NEW CHILDCARE CENTRE AT VALLEYCLIFFE ELEMENTARY Squamish Nation

has bestowed name on the 36-spot facility

WILL JOHNSON

For The Squamish Chief

The children belong to the mountain. That’s the meaning behind the name for anew child-care facility nearing completion at Valleycliffe Elementary, which will provide 36 spots for Squamish families.

Called Ménmens ta smánit child care centre, the name was inspired by the proximity to the nearby Stawamus Chief (Siy’ám’ Smánit) and bestowed bySḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). It suggests that the children there are under its benevolent gaze and care.

“In the same way that Siy’ám’ Smánit is central to the community and provides so much for its people, this new child care centre will provide local families with safe spaces where their children can learn and grow,” said Rohini Arora, B.C parliamentary secretary for child care, in a release.

“We know that delivering access to highquality, affordable child care means that working parents, single parents, and especially women, are able to stay in the workforce or return to school, directly helping families and supporting the local economy, all while their children are learning in a nurturing, supportive environment.”

The facility is made possible by both provincial and federal funding, with $2.5 million coming from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund The District of Squamish contributed $910,000 through the community amenity contribution (CAC) reserve.

Ménmens ta smánit child care centre will offer two programs with a total of 36 spaces: Honeybees, with 12 infant and toddler spaces for ages 12 to 36 months, and Hummingbirds, with 24 spaces for children aged 30 months to school age.

Sea to Sky Community Services will operate thenew centre. SSCS currently provides child care at six school sites across the school district,

We knowthat delivering access to high-quality, affordablechild care meansthat working parents, single parents, and especially women, are able to stay inthe workforce or return to school...

ROHINIARORA

including after-school care at Valleycliffe Elementary. With 45 staff supporting 11 programs, SSCS is well-positioned to deliver high-quality care that meets theneeds of local families, the release states.

A community celebration for the centre is planned for September 2025.

According to Mayor Armand Hurford, this facility will address an urgent need.

“We’re thrilled to see this long-needed facility come to life in the Valleycliffe neighbourhood. This project reflects the vision laid out in our Child Care Action Plan and responds directly to theneedsidentified in our Child Care Needs Assessment,”he said, in the release.

“The District of Squamish has long advocated for increased child care in our community, and these additional spaces will help more families access quality child care. While we know there’s still much work ahead to fully meet theneeds of Squamish families, this marks a meaningful and exciting step forward.”

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

The new child care centre is just about ready to welcome local littles.

WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS WITH CAPU SQUAMISH

This summer, aspiring Canadian screenwriters will have unprecedented access to mentorship and industry training

AUNI DAYTON

For The Squamish Chief

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has partnered with Capilano University in Squamish to create a new and improved Screenwriters Lab.

According to anews release from WFF, CapU will host the first of three phases at its Squamish Campus from Aug. 9 to 13, with the first day of this phase open to the public for workshops, panels, and lectures on the art and industry of screenwriting.

“This immersive day is designed to spark your creativity and deepen your understanding of screenwriting craft,” readsa news release. “Through engaging conversations and hands-on exploration, you’ll dive into the power of theme, the dynamic between protagonist and antagonist, writing for production realities, storytelling for feature film, and even a walking-andwriting session to tap into the inspiration all around you.”

WFF has also chosen to celebrate this anniversary by doubling its Screenwriters Lab cohort to include 12 up-and-coming Canadian Screenwriters. Not only will this cohort be the largest in WFF history, but it will also be the most diverse. This year’s stories include themes of self-discovery, AI ethics, the lasting impacts of Residential Schools, LGBTQ+ experiences, and identity. The lab offers a script and industry experience intended to help Canadian writers fine-tune their projects and craft, the release states.

WFF offers its participants “one-on-one

mentorship, group sessions, and market-oriented training,” led by experienced industry members.

Long-time WFF collaborator Ruth Atkinson will lead the program alongside Dennis Foon and CapU professors David Ray and David Geary.

Creator and writer Jordan Hart and actor, writer, director Mayumi Yoshida are also mentors.

“This year’s lab was not only our largest to date but also our most collaborative,” said Angela Heck, executive director of the Whistler Film Festival Society, in the release.“By partnering with Capilano University and opening the doors to the public, we are expanding access and buildingnew pathways for connection between industry, community, and creators.”

Their selected Screenwriting Lab participants are: Susan Bayani (Judas Tree); Arianna Martinez (Quince); Jialan Lin (Caregiver); Arnolda Dufour Bowes (Truthwalkers); Sarah Kelley (Dream Walkers); Dustin McGladrey (A Bloom in the Bentwood Box); Eloane Venkatapen (Lanmè); Alex Caulfield (Ghosting); Jackie Hoffart (Don’t Test Me); Elinor Svoboda (Lavender); Shelly Hong (Beast), and Karan Archana (Difference).

For $75, anyone can attend on Saturday, Aug 9 at the CapU campus in Squamish Go to https://form.jotform. com/251747109802255 to register.

Auni Dayton is The Squamish Chief’s student summer intern. She is a Squamish resident and high school student.

PHOTO BY PATRICK LEUNG/ COURTESY OF CAPU

The Squamish CapU campus.

2026 PermissiveTax Exemption Applications

PermissiveTaxExemptionsareamethodthat theDistrictofSquamish,supportedbyCouncil, maysupportvoluntarynon-profitorganizations by exemptinglandorimprovementsor both,fromtaxationunder Section224ofthe CommunityCharter.

TheDistrictofSquamishisnowaccepting applications forPermissiveTaxExemptions.Section 224ofthe CommunityCharterand the requirements oftheDistrictofSquamish Permissive TaxExemption policy apply.Ifyourorganizationcandemonstrate eligibilityyouarewelcometoapply foran exemption. Theapplicationandpolicyare availableonline. Thedeadlinetoapplyis today: July31,2025,for exemptionsbeginning forthe2026taxation year. Formoreinformation,please contactus at604-892-5217.

squamish.ca/grants

WHAT’S HAPPENINGIN RECREATION AND CULTURE

Checkout thepool schedule:

InfrastructureUpgrades

•Installation work continueson awatermain betweenBill’s Placeand Highlands WaySouth.

•Sanitaryforcemainupgradeon PiaRoad continues.

•WatermainupgradeonBirken Road continues.

•Annual roadpainting refreshprogramisunderway. Crewsare working at nighttolimittrafficimpacts. squamish.ca/building-our-future

CAMPFIRE BAN remainsineffect

DevelopmentReview

TemporaryUse Permits

•Sales Centre -Phase2(Terrain)

•3021UniversityBoulevard

•3041UniversityBoulevard squamish.ca/review

squamish.ca/rec/pool

NEW! Youcannowskiptheclicksandheaddirectly to registrationwithournewURL. It’s supereasy! squamish.ca/booknow

Bus Trip –55yrs+ PNE: Choose Your OwnAdventure

gust19,10 am –5 pm

Acherishedsummertradition for over acentury,this year’s event willonceagain featureadynamic mix of entertainment, including internationally renowned performers, innovativenew shows,andbelovedclassics. Forlessthanthe costofparking, get returntransportation to the PNE Admissionticket to the PNEis notincluded.

SUMMER CAMP:BOOKNOW! ChasingNature

(7–12yrs)

August5–8,9 am–4 pm

Joinus to explorelocal trails,identify themanytreesandplantsthatlive amongstus,and cooldown at the endofthedaywithsome water gamesandactivities.Thiscampwill visitthe SeatoSky Gondola. While wewelcome campersages7–12,most participantsaretypically between7–9. Costforthe campis$288.

Wellness Through Creativity

at The55Activity Centre

August6–27,1–2:30 pm

Comejoinusas we expandour creativemindsthroughdifferent artforms.Thisisafun,openand interactivespacetoexperimentand give spacetoyour imagination.

View thisad online:

HolidayHours

August4

MunicipalHall Closed

BylawServices

Call604-815-5067 forassistance 8 am–4:30 pm

Brennan ParkRecreation Centre9 am–3 pm

Public Works

Foremergencies:604-815-4040 Office Closed

Squamish Fire Rescue

Foremergencies:911 Office Closed

Squamish PublicLibraryClosed

The55ActivityCentreClosed

AirSealingEvents

Boost yourhome’s comfortandenergy efficiency! Joinour AirSealing Workshop Seriesandlearn howtoidentifyandsealairleaks foracozier, more cost-effectivelivingspace.

AirSealing Basics 5:30–6:30 pm,Tuesday, August12 Online Webinar

Air Sealingin Action

5–6:30 pm,Thursday,August14

In-Person Workshop at Squamish PublicLibrary

During Stage1,lawn wateringwith asprinkler isallowed twodaysper weekfrom4–10 am and7–10 pm basedonstreetaddress.

•Odd numberedaddressescan water on Thursdays andSundays.

•Evennumberedaddressescan water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

squamish.ca/rec

FIRESWARM BLAZES AHEAD WITH AUTONOMOUS FIREFIGHTING DRONE

Company has reached the semifinals of the XPRIZE Wildfire competition

WILL JOHNSON

For The Squamish Chief

They call it the Fire Wasp

It’s a sleek metal quadcopter drone with four rotors about half a person tall, just over three metres by three metres wide, with an empty weight of 375 kg.

Squamish’s FireSwarm Solutions has collaborated with ACC Innovation to turn the first-of-a-kind Thunder Wasp into a Fire Wasp, withthe ability to detect wildfire hot spots, collect water and then delivera payload—all autonomously.

The technology is beginning to garner international attention as local company FireSwarm, headsa team moving into the semifinals of the XPRIZE Wildfire competition.

“The future is here, which is exciting,” CEO Alex Deslauriers told The Squamish Chief.

“This is the first drone to market that has the ability to lift up to 400 kg with two hours of flight endurance thanks to our swarm algorithm.”

Following its recent test performance in Sweden, FireSwarm is feeling confident that Fire Wasps will become a routine part of fire suppression in Canada, which will fundamentally change how fires are fought They will now compete in mid-September against the 15 other remaining teams. For the XPRIZE Competition, FireSwarm has also joined forces with a cohort of partners: ACC Innovation, Exo Drone, Solaris Suborbital, and Trident Sensing.

Together, they combine leading-edge capabilities to push the boundariesset out in the XPRIZE guidelines, according to FireSwarm.

“It feels like we are going to change entirely how fires will be suppressed in the future Helicopters and tankers will be attacking fires that are truly out of control, but withthese machines pre-positioned in cities and First

Correction:

SqomishForestry, oneofthe presentersoftheSquamishDays Parade,wasincorrectlyidentifiedasSquamishForestry,inthe July24thissueofTheSquamish DaysLoggerSportsFeature.

TheSquamishChiefapologizes forthiserror.

Nations, they will be able to attack in the golden hour before the fire gets out of control.”

Three weeks ago, FireSwarm overcame one of its development hurdles by obtaining a Transport Canada Special Flight Operating Certificate (SFOC), which allows the Thunder Wasp to be flown in Canadianairspace Though they are autonomous, they have ground pilots who oversee their operation and receive data sent by the drone. One operator can oversee five drones under this SFOC

FireSwarm’s proprietary technology is the algorithm that makes autonomous firefighting possible as well. When combined with FireSwarm’s fire-ready kit of hardware (sensors, communication systems, radars etc.) this drone-agnostic technology can turn any ultra heavy-lift drone into an autonomous firefighting fleet.

They already have two launch customers lined up in Ontario and B.C.

“We’re the exclusive distributor of ACC Innovation Thunder Wasp and their entire line of drones for the entire Americas, south to north. We’re fielding calls every week for the sale of

these machines from Chile right to Alaska and around the world,” Deslauriers said.

“We believe that even one of these machines could be useful in the early stages of a wildfire If you imaginea tapestry of these machines pre-positioned across Canada, maybe 100 kilometres apart, as one fire is started, a machine could respond, and as the incident grows, more could be deployed.”

The XPRIZE competition has been the perfect way to introduce the technology to the world.

“The timing was absolutely perfect for our innovation When we started up in September 2023, the XPRIZE Wildfire competition was just being announced, and so we put our name in the hat and out of close to 400 companies, we were one of 29 selected to advance, and the only Canadian company,” Deslauriers said.

The judging for this team of competitors will occur in situ in Sweden, where their collaborators, the Thunder Wasp drone manufacturers ACC Innovation, are based.

“This trip marked a key achievement for FireSwarm,” said David Thanh, COO. “It shows that our software isn’t tied to any one airframe

We can integrate quickly and effectively with new technology, which is exactly what’s needed to tackle fast-moving wildfire threats.”

The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news To be considered, please reachout 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 Connect withthem directly and learn more at cfhowesound.com or email Kieran at kieran.hale@cfhowesound.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRESWARM FireSwarm team travels for testing in preparation for XPRIZE semifinals at ACC Innovation in Sweden July 2025.

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EDITORIAL

POWERFUL AND PRECARIOUS

The eventcarried powerful symbolism.

Sḵwxwú7meshÚxwumixw (SquamishNation) andDistrict leaders gathered on July 22 at Sp’akw’us FeatherPark, with Nation member James Harry’stoweringWelcome Gate silhouetted behindthem.

On theshore of Átl’ka7tsemHoweSound, whereNationmembers historically and currently paddle by canoe, the leadersof bothgovernments celebrated thesigning of a memorandum of understanding(MOU).

Inthedocument, they both agreed to work more closelytogetheronissuessuch aslandstewardship,reconciliation, and joint decision-making.

Amongother ambitiousgoals,there’sa plan in theagreement foraformalapology from theDistricttothe Nation for the impacts of colonization,and aplanto strikea committeeto discuss“land back” opportunities.

It is groundbreaking andsignificant.

ButjustliketravellersonHowe Sound arevulnerabletothe mighty wind —Nation andDistrictleadershadtoabandon their plantopaddle into shorefor the ceremony andinsteadcameseatedina canoetowed onaflatbed truck—theMOU is aprecarious agreement.

Aclauseinthe MOUstatesthat“either party mayterminate this MOUon30days writtennotice.”

MOUs arenot legallybinding;thisone is no exceptionand says so in blackand white inthe agreement.

Thesedocuments arepreliminary agreements—promises.

Andbothgovernments that signed it are ledbyelected officialssoonupfor re-election.

TheNation’sgeneral election forits 16 council members, chairpersonandband managerisonSept. 28.

Themunicipal election forDistrict council is in October2026. Mayor Armand Hurfordhas already said he won’trun again.

Both Nation andDistrictvotersshould keep this agreementinmindduringthe electioncampaigns andwhentheycast theirballots.

Thepromisesset outinthe historic agreementare only groundbreaking if thereisfollow-throughbythe future electedleaders.

SQUAMISH EXPANDSACCESSIBLE OPTIONSFOR ALL

YOUTHCOLUMN

AUNI DAYTON

AsSquamishgrows,itbecomes ever more importanttocreateawelcoming community andplace that allcan enjoy. WhileSquamishis wellknown as ahub forelite climbers andmountain bikers,recentinvestments areensuringthatpeoplewith disabilities,families with strollers, andolder adults are also able to enjoyall that Squamish hastooffer.

From theSea to SkyGondola to AliceLakeProvincial Park,everyoneiswelcome in Squamish outdoor recreational sites. Thegondola offers fullywheelchair-accessible cabins that canslowdownfor easy access,aswellasan accessible suspension bridge with viewsofthe Howe Sound. Theeight-kilometre paved trailin theSquamish Estuaryand Corridor Trailwinds througha beautifulhabitatwithseveral scenic viewpoints.The much shorteraccessibletrail in ShannonFalls Provincial Park is ashort, flat boardwalk that leadstobeautiful viewsofShannon Falls. TheSp’akw’us FeatherParktrailsallow people of all abilitiesaccesstoart installationsand accessible camp sites. Likewise,Alice LakeProvincialParkhas several accessible camp sites, as well as accessible playgroundsand trails,aswellasan adaptive biking trail called “South Coaster.”

If youare searchingfor more adventurousor sports-orientedaccessibleactivitieslikebikingor boating, youare in theright place. SORCA(Squamish Off-Road CyclingAssociation)isdevelopingmore adaptive mountain biking trails that will be accessible to handcycles,e-assists,and bucket seats, amongother MTBadaptations. Additionally,SquamishWater Sports hasaccessibility ramps, awheelchairaccessible washroom,and acrane that gently liftsyou onto aboat. WhileSquamish is knownfar andwidefor its beautifuloutdoor recreation spaces andits adventure sports,italsohas arichculture andmanywonderful indoor options. TheSquamish Public Libraryisfully wheelchair accessible andisawonderful placetorest, unwind,and,ofcourse, find agood book.The BritanniaMineMuseumMillNo. 3and BOOM!show, as well as theinteractive exhibits andwashrooms,are fullywheelchairaccessible. TheSquamishLil’wat Cultural Centre also celebrates historywithaccessible exhibits,galleries,and events.The BrennanPark Recreation Centre offers features like adedicated accessible shower,pool-safe wheelchairs, abeach-like entrance into themainpool, andrampaccesstothe hottub.

Thefutureofaccessibility in Squamish is focusedon creating amoreinclusive andwelcoming community foreveryone, with planstofindand removeany barrierstoaccessinany area.

Auni Dayton is ahighschoolstudent anda summer intern at TheSquamishChief.

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

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

SQUAMISH COULD BE A WORLD-CLASS GREEN HUB

approvals going ahead against some locals’ voices, it’s understandable that some in the community may feel powerless about the shape the town is taking.

But what if we imagined a different scenario?

The District of Squamish recently rana survey of local sentiments about life in the community. The results indicate that most people are unhappy or conflicted about ongoing development. Squamish has been undergoing rapid growth in recent years and is projected to increase in population by 53% by 2046.

This inevitably puts pressure on both the housing market and the natural landscapes that Squamish is famous for. Many mountain bikers are already mourning the likely future loss of downhill trails. Some people are worried about Squamish becoming another suburban version of Vancouver. Others are concerned about overcrowded parks and traffic congestion. For many, this change may immediately provoke a sense of failure: nature versus development.

When I moved to Squamish six years ago, this tension between population growth and keeping Squamish small was tangible.

These days, it seems everyone, from newcomers catching on to these sentiments to longtime residents, has accepted that development is inevitable, but still views it as something bad for this region.Furthermore, with new project

CAR-DEPENDENT TOWN

On July 15, our council and mayor voted 5-2 to pass a variance in their own bylaws to please a developer and themselves I had the displeasure of being at the meeting, and they seemed more concerned withthe colour of the building and pre-approved setbacks rather than the point in front of them.

Councilmen John French and Chris Pettingill spoke about how this was a

One where thoughtful development transforms Squamish into a truly one-of-a-kind place that balances community growth with environmental boundaries?

Picture Squamish as the hub of green businesses and clean technology The foundation is alreadyhere We could build on our environmental values to attract sustainable companies and investments that grow from and give back to our outdoor culture. Everynew building would demonstrate the highest standards of green design Our tourism industry could become a model for responsible travel, while supporting local conservation and education. The end result would be a sustainable ecosystem that creates good jobs and builds wealth locally.

None of this, however, happens by accident. It requires intentional community engagement and smart policy choices that align growth with sustainability values. The question isn’t whether Squamish will continue developing, it’s whether the community shapes that development or will be shaped by it.

Success requires creating strong incentives for environmental entrepreneurship, and green economy and

infrastructure in Squamish.

In that respect, Squamish could follow the example of Freiburg, a German city on the edge of the Black Forest, which transformed into “Europe’s Solar City” after anti-nuclear protests in the 1970s.

Freiburg’s success came from three key policy tools: feed-in tariffs that guarantee above-market prices for renewable energy producers, mandatory low-energy building standards, and requirements that new buildings accommodate solar systems. Today, the Freiburg region has 2,000 solar enterprises generating 650 million euros per yearand employing 12,000 workers. The city is also renowned for its eco-neighbourhoods, alternative transportation, and preservationof the natural environment.

Likewise, Squamish could create an ecosystem that champions green innovation by building on what the region already offers: world-class outdoor recreation,a growing eco-tourism sector, the presence of climate technology leader Carbon Engineering, and its intimate proximity to Howe Sound - Canada’s 19th UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. As the District updates its developer contribution system in 2025, this presents a unique opportunity to add sustainability criteria that futureproof the infrastructure and business ecosystemneeded to handle that growth responsibly.

Anna Posacka is an ocean sustainability professional residing in Squamish.

“great idea” and how it supports their vision for the future of Squamish, and the mayor echoed their perspective They said that when this development is finished, they have confidence that the “key” transit infrastructure between the Sea to Sky and within Squamish, will be in place. They spoke about the “forwardthinking” plan, but I believe that is the problem. They want to transform our downtown core into a pedestrian utopia, but none of that is possible without proper

planning, the infrastructure needed, and the funds to make it happen

A fact of living in Squamish is being burdened by a vehicle. You might not “need” a car, but it significantly improves your quality of life Beyond daily life, even some basicneeds are not met, and so one must venture south to Vancouver for even the most basic medicalneeds. Grocery shopping and going to the

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Could you live in Squamish without owning a personal vehicle?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

Will you attend the Squamish Days Loggers’ Sports Festival this year? (Top 4 answers)

MOST READ STORY JOIN

Why is the price of gas in the Sea to Sky so high?

TOP TIKTOKOF THE WEEK LETTERS: Continued on12

Reporter Indigo LemayConway recently took in a Sea to Sky Gondola’s Taste of the Summit event. See what she thought of it on our TikTok channel @squamishchief

GUEST COLUMN ANNA POSACKA

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS: Continued from 11

drug store are simple things, and why Squamish will be car-dependent for the foreseeable future

Beyond regular daily errands, a huge portion of our population commutes to Whistler or Metro Vancouver on a daily basis and having a car is how they get to work in order to feed themselves or their families They commute from sunrise to sunset, or even earlier and later, and that type of transit is years, if not decades, away.

AMC Development, in lieu of 28 parking spots (20 residential and8 commercial), is to allocate $240,000 to some improvement plan that I didn’t catch the name of.A pathetic amount, which couldn’t coveranew bus, let alone the driver’s salary and maintenance. They wereto add more bike storage in place of the parking spots, and when asked, the response was that this building would providea Modo car rental and the Evo bikes would cater to theneeds of the residents.

Coun. Greenlaw made a great point that the city’s bylaws are there andneed to be followed, and that variances are granted only when something better is offered. It is not their problem if the developer cannot plan to follow them. Aftera quick “debate,” the variance was passed.

I completely understand that Squamish is a growing community and will continue to be What I fail to understand is why the council is so delusional about how that growth will

happen. As a councillor, you were elected to serve the current community and to plan for the future–not the other way around.I would love to be able to walk from my house to a restaurant, or the grocery store, or the waterfront, but those things are nota reality when there are no sidewalks, no safe bike lanes between differentneighbourhoods, no mixed-use and commercial spaces throughout each part of the town, no better and more frequent transit options, among other things We must also look into basic services in our town, like the hospital, Brennan Park, and other community spaces that are of real use to residents We must ask more of the council, developers, and, quite frankly, ourselves if Squamish is to be a place that serves us in every way, not just through deluded visions of an unrealistic utopia.

Sukhdeep Sidhu Squamish

TIME FOR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Regarding Mario Canseco’s“Polling shows push for proportional representation stalling in B.C.,” published online on July 24. The results just go to show that referenda are nota good way to gauge public preferences. Most people don’t understand the issues as presented. And throwing in new choices only adds to the confusion.

Polls have consistently shown that when you ask people a simple question, do they think the percentage of seats won should reflect the

popular vote gained, over 60% will say yes.

Try asking people whether or not they want their vote to count some of the time or whether they want their vote to count all of the time, what do you think their response would be?

My parents raised me to make fairness one of the most important qualities a person could have

First-past-the-post (FPTP) voting is definitely not fair Yes, everyone has the right to vote We’ve come a long way from 1867, when Canada adopted the Westminster system and only a select few had the right to vote Over the decades, more and more groups were given the franchise, until now, every Canadian citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote.

However, not all votes have the same elective power, witnessed by the results of the last election, when the Green Party won two seats under FPTP, instead of the eight seats they would have won under a fair system, some form of proportional representation. That is not fair.

It’s time to recognize that the right to have everyone’s vote have the same elective power is as fundamental to a fair democracy as the right to vote.A short story. A man is invited to a card game by a friend He knocks on the door and is met by his friend, who informs him that the other players hada vote, and yes, he can play, buthe has to get twice as many votes as anyone else in order to win.

Why referenda are nota suitable vehicle for gauging public opinion; voters are busy

people. They don’t want to take the time to understand complex issues. We elect representatives to make those decisions for us, hopefully in our best interests.

Which design for the Canadian flag, yes. Whether we should have a fairer electoral system, no When voters are faced with a difficult decision, they pick the status quo. Those who would benefit by keeping FPTP don’t want to give up the system that got them elected. Their motive is strictly self-interest. So, they will deny voters a fair system by using disinformation and obfuscation to persuade voters to continue to support that self-interest. In the early 50s, WAC Bennett got elected by a fluke, the result of a once-in-a-lifetime alignment of parties. His Social Credit party came up the middle in a ranked ballot system. Once he was elected, he realized he would never win another election under the ranked ballot, so he unilaterally changed the system to FPTP.

Those who oppose a more democratic system are not playing fair.

How many of you will defend a system that, several times in the past federal and provincial elections, has had the winner getting more votes than the loser? One example from B.C., when Gordon Campbell got several thousand more votes than Glen Clark, but lost the seat count. Federally, how many times has the Conservative Party won the popular vote and lost the election?

Daryl Sturdy Vancouver

PHOTO BY DARRYL SCHWANKE

NoticeofDecision

Tuesday, August6,2025, at 4:30 p.m.

MunicipalHall,37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C.

NoticeofDecision

ConsiderationofDelegatedTemporary UsePermitNo.TU000078

NOTICEisherebygiveninaccordancewith Section494ofthe Local Government ActthattheDistrictofSquamishhas receivedapplicationand willbeconsidering issuanceofa TemporaryUse Permitasindicatedherein.TheDistrictofSquamish will receiverepresentationsfrompersonswhobelieve thattheirinterestin propertyisaffected by theproposedtemporaryuse(s).

TheTemporaryUse Permitapproval willbe considered by theDirectorof CommunityDevelopmentat4:30 p.m. on August6,2025,atMunicipalHall, 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia.

AFFECTED LANDS

41159 GaribaldiSpringsWay, Squamish, B.C.

EXISTING ZONING

MixedMultipleUnit Residential(RM-4)

PROPOSEDTEMPORARYUSE

To allowfor asales centre onthe easternportionoftheproperty shown onthe Location Map.

Acopyofthe TemporaryUse Permit applicationand relatedinformation maybeinspectedatMunicipalHall, 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia,fromJuly24 to August5,2025,betweenthehoursof8:00a.m.and5:00 p.m., Mondayto Thursdayinclusive, andbetweenthehoursof8:30a.m.and4:30 p.m.on Fridays, excludingstatutoryholidays.

Enquiries regardingtheproposed TemporaryUse Permitmaybemade to the Planning Departmentat 604-815-5002.Acopyofthe TemporaryUse Permit applicationand relatedinformationis availableonline at squamish.ca/showcase. Publicinputwillbeconsidered by theDistrictinreviewoftheapplication.Persons whobelievethattheirinterestinproperty isaffectedbytheproposed Temporary Use Permitmaysubmitwrittensubmissions to planning@squamish.ca or,in persontotheDirectorofCommunityPlanning.Writtensubmissionscanbe addressed to theDirectorofCommunityPlanningand will be received upuntil 4:00 p.m. August5,2025

Allsubmissionswill form partofthe publicrecord. Thisisthesecondof twonoticesdatedthis31dayofJuly, 2025, atSquamish,British Columbia.

NoticeofGrant of Assistance

Squamish SearchandRescue Society

PursuanttoSection 24of theCommunityCharter, the Districtof Squamishherebygivesnoticeofitsintention tograntassistance to SquamishSearchand Rescue Societybyallowinguseof land at 45991 GovernmentRoad for one year foronedollar perannum forthepurposesofrelocating,constructingand operating abaseofoperationsforsearchand rescueservices.

NoticeofOutstanding Property TaxPenalty

Asecond5%penaltywill beappliedon outstandingproperty taxesand utilities after July31. To avoidthesecondpenalty, owners should payby today: July31

If youhavenot received yournotices,please call 604-815-5010.

Business Opportunities

Requests for Quotations •Madill Forcemain Replacement Construction squamish.ca/doingbusiness-with-thedistrict

Victoria Street ActiveTransportationUpgrades

TheDistrictofSquamishisbeginning constructiononnewprotectedbike lanes along Victoria Street to expandimportantbikelane connectionsthrough Downtown. Thisphaseofbikelane improvementswilllink ThirdAvenue tothenew PedestrianBridge at LoggersLane.AsThirdAvenue continues to develop,thisstreetisenvisionedasanimportantconnectorfor cyclists entering/exitingDowntown.

Thisprojectwill link Downtownwiththenew PedestrianBridge overthe MamquamBlindChannel.This will result in an improvedactivetransportation link to andfromsouthernSquamishNeighbourhoodsthrough SeaANDSkyto Downtown Squamish forpeopleofallagesandabilities.

Localized work willtakeplacebetween August 5and8,with roadworkon Victoria Streetbetween ThirdAvenueand Second Avenuebeginningthe following week.Please expectthe following:

•Workwill takeplacebetween 7a.m.and 7p.m. MondaytoFriday.

•Increasednoiselevels.

•Short-term trafficdisruptionsdue toconstructionactivitiesand vehicles.

•Localized roadclosuresalong Victoria Streetwillbe required.

Work isanticipatedtolast forapproximately 4months.All effortsarebeing made to minimizeimpacts to thearea.

Formoreinformationvisitthe District’s projectpage: squamish.ca/victoria-street-active-transportation-upgrades

LOCATION MAP

WHYIS THE PRICE OF GAS IN THE SEA TO SKY SO HIGH?

The cost of regular gasoline remainsstubbornly high across the Sea to Sky region, even after British Columbiascrapped its consumer carbon taxearlier this year—a move that was expected to bring relief at the pump

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

The price of regular gas is 159.9¢ per litre today, at most stations in the Sea to Sky Corridor.

The price of gas regionally has come down since the B.C. government cancelled the carbon tax effective April1 of this year.

The reduction of the tax to $0 aligned B.C.’s carbon tax rate withthenew federal carbon tax rate.

“The elimination of the carbon tax means people in British Columbia will no longer be required to pay the consumer carbon tax, taking approximately 17¢/L off the cost of fuel,”a provincial government press release said at the time.

But locals and regional leaders have noted that the price at the pump still doesn’t match other communities.

For example, in Cranbrook on July 27, drivers can fill up for 129.9¢/L In Kelowna, the price of gas is 134.9¢/L.

Metro Vancouver communities paya motor fuel tax for TransLink.

The South Coast British Columbia transportation service region (SCTA) that pays the extra tax includes areas outside of Vancouver, such as Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Burnaby, and north to Lions Bay.

BreakingNews

Yet, even though those communities have the extra 18.50¢/L to support transit, their price at the pump can be less than in the corridor.

On July 27, drivers could fill up for 153.9 ¢/L in Burnaby, for example.

NO CONSPIRACY

The Squamish Chief contacted regional stations and their parent companies, by phone and/or email.

The Squamish Nation Gas Bar, which typically sells gas at slightly less than the rest in Squamish, falls under the Nchkay Development Corporation, the economic arm of the Nation.

Folks with Nchkay declined to comment for this story.

Green Lake Station Café and Fuel in Whistler owner, Greg Naundorf was willing to go on the record He stressed there is no conspiracy of stations in the Sea to Sky.

“It’s illegal to discuss prices with other stations, so I don’t speak to any of them,” said Naundorf.

“I geta delivery and receive the invoices, and the price is based on that. It’s that simple.”

Other stations referred The Squamish Chief to their parent companies or did not providea comment by press deadline.

I getadelivery and receivethe invoices,andthe priceis based onthat. It’s that simple.

GREGNAUNDORF

‘A LUXURY PREMIUM?’

The issue of higher gas prices in the corridor has long been a thorn in the side of former Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy, who recently posted publicly about it, urging residents to contact the premier and energy minister to demand action.

“This is a luxury premium that is being imposed by the fuel companies,” Sturdy said “Why [do] they feel they can justify an excess of 24¢/L to charge us in the Sea to Sky?”

Previously, in 2019, the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) collected all the data needed fora proper submission to the Canadian Competition Bureau on the issue. In 2021, the BCUC acknowledged there was an unexplained bump in the cost of fuel in the Sea to Sky Corridor.

“They’re welcome to do it again, post carbon tax elimination, but then I’d like to see some actionon it,” Sturdy said.

He is calling on the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, Adrian Dix, to take existing data and create a submission to the competition bureau.

“If we recognize there’s a problem, then let’s at least attempt to do something about it, or at least figure it out, or understand why. I just don’t understand the reticence [of the provincial government] to put together a submission to the Competition Bureau and forward it off to Ottawa. Like, why not? What’s the downside?”

“It’s not like it’s a whole pile of work. They just need to package the submission and send it off. And it could be that, though, the Competition Bureau will come back and say, ‘Well, you just don’t have enough competition.’”

Whilehe acknowledged that he hasn’t done a deep dive into the data, given his surface research,he saidhe doubts that anywhere else in B.C. deals withthe constantly elevated fuel prices in the Sea to Sky.

“I think it’s probably fair to say that the Sea to Sky is the most expensive place to buy gas in North America,” he said.

“When we’re concerned about affordability in the Sea to Sky, these are one of those things

GAS: Continuedfrom16

that impact affordability.”

He pointedtolocal companiesthatinvolve truckingand howmuchtheyare having to payfor fuel.

Sturdy,aPemberton farmer himself, said theextra moneypaidlocally forfuelcould have more than supportedaregionaltransit system.Sturdywas on thecommittee working towardregionaltransit when he wasinoffice.

“Ithink what wewere proposingwitha regional transitsystemwas afueltax of three centsalitre,[which] wasgoing to payfor it for thefirst fewyears.[It would] paythe local governmentshare anyway forthe firstthree years. Andevenifwedoubled that to sixcents, itwas goingtopay boththeprovincialand the localgovernmentshare.”

TheGreen Party’sJeremyValeriote,current MLA forWestVancouver-Sea to Sky concurred.

“Ifwewerebeing chargedfairlyand getting transit, then that wouldbeOK,”hesaid. “Currently, we’rebeing overcharged, and we’renot gettingtransit.”

He acknowledged Sturdy’s work on the matter.

“I’m trying to tackle it,but what Iwanttodo iswaitfor thediscussionona fuel taxfor regional transittoberesolvedbefore, so that wecan at leasthavethatready to go,and then try to bringinsomeofthe teeth of theFuel PriceTransparencyAct,” he said.

Valeriotecampaignedon gettingthe Seato Sky regional transit, andit is in theGreen Partyand NDPprovincialgovernment’s Co-operation andResponsible Government Accord.

“Governmentwillcommit, in collaboration withBCGC, to implementfrequent, reliable, affordable regional transiton keyinterregional routes on VancouverIsland, along Highway16, andalong Highway1,witha focusonSea to Skycorridor transitin2025,” readsthe agreement.

Valeriotehas saidhe expectsanannouncement on regional transitthisfall.

Butlastweek, he told TheSquamish Chief that to getregionaltransit in place(so that discussiononthe fuel taxfor it canmove forward),there needstobe vocal pressure from stakeholderssoitisclear that it is supported.

PROVINCE CITESTRANSPARENCY MEASURES

Aspokespersonfor B.C’sMinistryofEnergy andClimate Solutionstold TheSquamish Chiefthatthe difference in fuel pricingis exactlywhy thegovernmentbrought in the Fuel PriceTransparencyAct—toshine alight on unfair pricegouging andtoensurethat companiesare held publicly accountable.

“The province’s Fuel PriceTransparencyAct allows theBCUtilities Commission to analyze and identify unjustifiedmarkups by fuel suppliers,and this hashelpedcontrol fuel prices,”the spokesperson said,addingthatthe province is notcontemplating areviewofthe gasolineand diesel prices in theSea to Sky region.

“The BritishColumbiaUtilities Commission

(BCUC) wasnamed as theindependent administratorofthe Fuel PriceTransparency Act andgiven thepower to collectand publish data on fuel pricingin ordertopromote competitioninthe market,” thespokesperson saidinanemailed statement.

According to theministryspokesperson, the BCUCbelievesthatthe retail market has adequately adjusted prices andpassedonthe savings from theremoval ofthe carbon taxto B.C. consumers, as perthe conclusion of their report publishedonJune17, 2025.

Regarding thefederal CompetitionBureau, thespokespersonsaiditdoesnot regulate fuel prices, butitwillinvestigate if thereis evidence of anti-competitive behaviourinthe market, suchasprice-fixingorrestrictionsin supply.

Geographic proximitytothose communities that paythe extradedicated 18.50¢/L meansthatgas stations in theSea to Sky competewithgas stations in Vancouver, the spokespersonsaid.

“BCUCstaff foundthatthe geographic proximity of Whistler andSquamish to Metro Vancouver resulted in theseretailers forming asinglelargermarket(p. 11 of this report).”

“Asaconsequence,gas stations in theSea to Sky Corridor canset pump prices accordingto whatmotorists arewilling to pay, rather than matching them to pump prices in theLower Mainland.”

EXPERT ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS GLOBALFACTORS BEHIND GAS PRICES

Thefederal government says that gasprices are mostly influenced by four factors: taxes, competition andconsumerchoice, the amountoffuelsold,and thetypeand location of gasstations.

PatrickDe Haan,headofpetroleum analysiswithGasBuddy—which is apopular appthatprovidescrowd-sourced fuel prices at stationsacrossNorthAmerica,aswellas analysis—broke down whichfactors play the biggestroleinwhatdrivers payatthe pump.

He said,overall,the priceofoil is the predominantfactorinwhatastation is going tocharge.

Theprice of oilrises or fallsliterally every secondofevery day, dependingonchanges to theoutlook foroil,headded.

Oilpricesare impacted by global events, such as wars in theMiddleEast, uncertainty over theeconomy,and similarissues.

“Thatiswhatcan change andfluctuate ona daily basis,”he said.

“There’s thecostofrefining, whichone would thinkisa setamount, butlogistics, supplyand demand canchangeatthe refining level,”he added.

“Soessentially,the cost remainsthe same, butthe valueofthatproducedproduct can vary independentlyofoil.”

Often, theprice of oiland gasoline,diesel, and jetfuelall move in tandem,DeHaan explained.

“Ifoil goes up,gas,jet fuel, anddieselgoup, and if oilgoesdown, normally,all threeof thosegodown. Butthere canbeextenuating circumstances like refiningoutages,which have hitthe West Coastprettyhardthisyear,”

There’sthe cost of refining, which onewould thinkis asetamount,but logistics, supply anddemandcan change at the refininglevel.

PATRICKDE HAAN

he said, adding that much ofour fuel on the coastofB.C.comes from refineries in theU.S., like California,where thereare aboutnine refineries.

B.C. only hastwo,and neitherhas high productionrates,according to thefederal government.

Closer to thepump, thepipelinetariffplays apartin thecostdrivers pay, as well,hesaid, stressingthistariffhas nothingtodowiththe currenttrade warwiththe U.S.

“It’sessentially atarifffor that gasoline to getfrompoint Atopoint B,”hesaid.

He addedthatdespite public ire, theprofit margin made by thestation is thesmallest portionofwhatpeopleare paying at the pump.

“Generally,asyou getfromthe well head

wherethe oilisbeing produced down to the station, thereislessmoney in it as youget closer to thegas pump whereyou’reactually pumpingit,”hesaid.

“So, oilproducers generallymakethe bulk of theprofit. Thegovernmentalsomakesa bulk of it.But then,asyou gettothe pump, that’s generallywhere youmakethe smallest amount of money.”

Ultimately,though, De Haan said the GasBuddy appwas createdtohelpmotorists find more competitivestations.

“You can, youcan inquirewiththe business. Youcan work with your government to understand whytheymaybe charging this, butatthe endof theday,you know,ifyou’re willingtopay that,you’rewilling to paythat.”

Oneway to help with gaspricesisfor Canada to have itsown refineries,ratherthan be dependentonthe U.S.

“I’m American,and IfinditironicthatI’m saying Canada shouldn’tbeasreliant on the States,” he said.

“Ifyou want to be more in controlofwhat your fuel prices are, it wouldbewellrootedfor Canada to diversifyits sourcesofproduct like gasoline,diesel, jetfuel, oil, etc. So,there isa validpoint to be made that withtheU.S.being alittlebit more uncertain, that Canada should developmoreofits ownresources.”

TheBCUCpublishes dailyprice information forcommunities across B.C. on itswebsite.

With filesfromfreelance journalist Will Johnson (The Squamish Chief) andBradenDupuis(Pique Newsmagazine).

BritanniaMineMuseumgratefully acknowledges their communitysponsors:

‘FINDING JODI’ FILM TEAM TURNS UP THE PRESSURE WITH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Filmmakers continue quest for answers in local girl’s disappearance

WILL JOHNSON

For The Squamish Chief

When the filmmakers behind the documentary Finding Jodi embarked on an awareness campaign in Drayton Valley, Alta., earlier this year, they weren’t expecting such an overwhelming response. They thought prairie locals would be unfamiliar withthe missing Squamish teen whose disappearance triggered their investigation, but they were wrong.

Jodi Henrickson,a 17-year-old who went missing after leavinga Bowen Island party during Father’s Day weekend in 2009, was on everybody’s lips.

“Our hope with this campaign was that people with less of an online presence would see the physical posters and billboards, and Jodi would become a subject of conversation with people we hadn’t reached yet. I’m pleased to say that it was successful, but successful in a surprising way,” filmmaker Jenny Baynham told The Squamish Chief.

“It’s different on Bowen Island and in Squamish, which is where she was from and everyone knows abouther. When we went to

Meet Spirit!

Thislivelyadventurerislooking fora humantoown.A professional napper andfull-time snackinspector, he islookingfor awindowtoperch on anda laptonuzzleinto. He’llgiveyou consistentlove, while yellingatkids to getoff hislawn. Spiritisn’tlooking to be part of acat-crew, he needs to be theonlysuperstar kittyofhis household. Come in and introduceyourself!

Drayton Valley, though, which is an hour outside Edmonton, we thought it would be a big reveal, but actually my phone started ringing off the hook and suddenly all my texts were area code 780.”

The significance of the town is that the film crew believes it is the current residence of someone who has been of interest in the case

“Everyone in Drayton Valley knew her name and had been holdingher memory alive for over a decade It was kind of beautiful because for her parents, they were wondering ‘does anyone care?’ and there are 7,000 people in this town and to have them all know her and champion her was very emotional for them.”

The team behind Finding Jodi has been investigatingher disappearance for years now, working towardsa completion date for the documentary of April 2026. A recent search by the Canadian Cadaver Canines on Bowen Island was triggered by a tip the crew received and resulted in soil samples that are currently being tested.

“A group of them came over and searched the area of interest, then we called homicide and they took it from there.”

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is responsible for Henrickson’s case.

“The investigation into the murder of Jodi Henrickson is an active and open investigation, and we are unable to share any further details,” a spokesperson for IHIT told The Squamish Chief on July 22.

“We urge anyone with information to contact IHIT investigators.”

For Baynham, frustration is mounting as the team continues to share information and what they see as evidence about Henrickson with law enforcement, without any arrests following. Baynham said she is becoming disillusioned withthe criminal justice process.

She said that the safety of women—especially vulnerable women—seems like such a low priority.

“I always thought the system was there to protect us, which was privileged and naive of me It’s not in my natureto be critical of law enforcement, butI do feel frustrated.”

Regardless of the outcome of the film or any criminal case, Henrickson’s memory is very much alive.

“There’s been a beautiful evolution in this story, of people just talking abouther and talking about this. It’s nice to have her living in the sunshine,” she said.

“But I have been personally horrified, thinking what if one of my loved ones goes missing and doesn’t get found in the first month? They’ll end up on a shelf with 1,800 other files, and even if a documentary team gets involved and provides item after item of leads, we’ll still not see any urgency. Violence is happening today, right now, so how can we sit back and see the same patterns emerge that resulted in someone dying 16 years ago. How can that be allowed to continue?”

Anyone with more information on the disappearance is asked to contact investigators at 1-877-551-4448 or via email at ihitinfo@ rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNI BAYNHAM A billboard in Drayton Valley, Alta.

‘I COULD DOTHIS FOR A LIVING’

Reigning U23 national XCO champion Marin Lowe discusses her athletic journey

DAVID

SONG

dsong@wplpmedia.com

Marin Lowe thinks back fondly to her first European race

She wasa bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 16-year-old in NovéMěsto na Moravě,a Czech town of just under 10,000 people that hosts UCI World Cups in the cross-country Olympic (XCO) and cross-country short track (XCC) disciplines. The year was 2022, and Lowe had registered fora junior event alongsideher Stimulus Orbea teammates: Isabella and Ava Holmgren.

Isabella placed seventh, Ava eighth and Lowe ninth. It was something of a core memory for them all.

“We’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, we have what it takes!’” Lowe said.“I think that definitely sparked something in me, [realizing] I could do this fora living.”

Lowe qualified forher maiden World Championships that very year She finished 16th due in part to a bout of COVID shortly beforehand, but still gained valuable experience—not to mention inspiration observing the elite races that same weekend.

In 2023, the Squamolian really made her presence felt with XCO silver at the World Championships in Glentress, Scotland.

“I still think it’s one of my best performances It was just like one of those days where you feel on fire,” recalled Lowe “The course is super awesome at that venue, and I think it’s still one of my favourite courses regardless of results. Had an awesome race, came second to my teammate Bella Holmgren … to go beyond [my original goal of a top 10] and geta medal was pretty surreal.”

Fast forward to the present, and you’ll find Lowe to be a key member of the Canadian U23 women’s cross-country squad alongside both Holmgren sisters and herold friend, Ella MacPhee. On July 19, Lowe became national XCO champ in Langford, B.C. aftera hotly contested duel with eventual runner-up MacPhee.

TRAINING BUDDIES

Folks have asked Lowe why shenever got into downhill or enduro biking despiteher origins in Squamish Ironically, she felt “super terrified” of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park (WMBP) and its brake bumps as a young girl who simultaneously loved cross-country trails. Lowe was evidently meant to be an endurance athlete, displaying talent at biathlon, cross-country skiing and running as well.

MacPhee has been there for not quite every step of the way, but close. She and Lowe met in kindergarten and did similar sports growing up even before becoming national teammates. They’ve also bonded as fellow University of Victoria students, with MacPhee pursuing a kinesiology degree and Lowe a double major in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies.

Both are coached by 2016 Olympic bronze

MarriageCommissioner

The VitalStatisticsAgency, Ministry of Health,islookingfor an individual to serve as aMarriageCommissioner forSquamish. Theindividualwill performcivil marriages within theircommunity on behalf of theAgency. Applicants must reside inSquamishinorder to be considered forthisposition.

For informationand anapplicationformpleasevisit: gov.bc.ca/becoming-a-marriage-commissioner

I stillthinkit’s one of my best performances. It was just like oneofthose days where you feel onfire.

MARIN LOWE

medallist Catharine Pendrel, and both view her as a role model.

“We’re great training buddies,” Lowe said about MacPhee.“Right now she’s definitely faster than me, but we push each other in different ways all the time We’re definitely competitive with one another, but for the most part we’re very close and have a lot of fun

together It’s nice to have a friendly face when we’re out in Europe.”

MacPhee bested Lowe at this July’s national XCC event, grabbing silver in comparison to Lowe’s bronze

After spending 2024 with Pittstop Racing Team, Lowe signed on with Liv Factory Racing She was attracted to the brand’s values as an all-female unit with a mission to empower women in mountain biking, and further impressed by Liv’s approach to management When they gave her an offer, she didn’t dare refuse.

‘TOUGH MOMENTS ALONG THE ROAD’

For Lowe, it hasn’t all been fun and games. Nagging injuries meant she only cracked the top 10 once last year, while contracting mononucleosis and dengue fever preventeda return to her old stomping grounds in NovéMěsto this May. Fortunately the symptoms weren’t as harsh as they could have been, enabling Lowe to follow up her campaign-high two straight fifths in Araxá with ninth and sixth at hernext World Cup in Leogang.

There is, however, another ailment Lowe battles. She was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) at age 12 and has experienced its deleterious effects in many aspects of life

“I was very lucky that I had family and friends whoI felt very comfortable talking to, and also gothelp early on,” reveals the now 20-year-old “There’s been some tough moments along the road.I worked with a psychologist very, very frequently … but after my first World Champs in Les Gets, my OCD got very hard to navigate and I actually started taking medication for it.

“This wasa hard decision to make because I always wanted to deal with it on my own, but it’s actually quite crazy how much medication has helped. All the energy I was putting into fighting these intrusive thoughts, nowI can put into my sport and just enjoy life a bit more … but [OCD] is definitely stilla part of whoI am. For anyone out there potentially struggling talking to people was really, really big for me and you don’t have to be scared of taking medication It can be very helpful.”

PHOTO BY ROBIN NEVRALA

Squamish cross-country rider Marin Lowe is not afraid to have fun at her day job.

MARIZA NASU REFLECTS ON PLACING FOURTH AT CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Squamish wrestler’s coach, Frank Mensah,

doesn’t think ‘any obstacle’ will halt her development

Championships (U19, U17, U15) in T’Suutina Nation, Alta.—but soldiered on undeterred.

DAVID SONG dsong@wplpmedia.com

Mariza Nasu’s stock is rising fast The Squamish-based wrestler placed fourth among 43-kilogram girls at June’s U17 Pan-American Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She lost to eventual victor Natalie Radecki of the United States and Mexican bronze medallist Karen Silva, but did defeat Peru’s national champ Margarita Pumachaico

It was Nasu’s maiden international contest, and the first she participated in withouther father, Mike, by her side.

“I was definitely more nervous not having my dad there, butI had lots of support from my coaches and teammates,” she remarked. “I also knew my dad was watching me online back home, cheering me on.”

Nasu grindedher way through a demanding early season just to qualify for Pan-Ams. She fell short at B.C. Provincials and was bested during her fifth-place match at the Canadian Wrestling

A reversal of fortune took place at the Canadian Championships (Senior, Junior, Cadet) in Edmonton, which doubled as national team trials and were held separately from the T’Suutina event because of divergent age groups at the international level. Nasu struck gold to clinch a Pan-Am berth, winning each of her matches.

“This achievement meansa lot to me because at the start of the wrestling season, I wasn’t getting the resultsI wanted in tournaments,” Nasu said. “Then when it mattered most,I finally placed first, and I’m very proud that my hard work paid off.”

Her coach, Coast Wrestling Academy technical director Frank Mensah, is very impressed by her poise.

“I’ve seen a lot of great athletes over the years who do very well nationally, but they get to Pans-Ams and freeze. They can’t even put together a way to score points,” Mensah said. “To see [Mariza] come out the same athlete in Rio that she was [in Edmonton], it shows she’sa competitor, andI don’t think any obstacle will stop her.

“The Pan-Ams, for me, are a test to see

how athletes deal with struggles. You’re looking at the best of every country. It’s almost like going to rehearsal fora wedding and then going to the actual wedding… [in all of Mariza’s previous competitions] the mat would have been at ground level, with coaches only a few feet away from you. At the international level, she’s competing on a platform which is elevated a good 33 inches or so Your coach feels so much further from you, and you feel like you’re naked on stage.”

A GRAPPLER’S LIFE

Nasu started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) as a child out of Mountain Jiu-Jitsu in her hometown, with her dad as coach. She transitioned into wrestling two years ago because of the future opportunities it presents, and believes her BJJ experience grants the mental toughness necessary to go far as an athlete.

Mensah agrees, saying: “Even though she’s wrestled fora short time, the other martial arts that she’s donehelps [bolster]her competitive experience. It’s grappling with a few different rules, but at the end of the day it’s still a combative sport. I find that jiu-jitsu makes kids a little bit tougher. They have a little more grit.”

WoodfibreLNG Project

Invitation to Comment

When asked about the people who have helped her develop, Nasu praised the team at Coast Wrestling Academy as well as her previous gym, Westsider Wrestling.

“[Mariza’s kind words] mean a lot because younever truly know as a coach what kind of impact you’re having on the athlete,” said Mensah “There area lot of coaches in our program that make everything work The funny thing is, in her final Pan-Ams match, she was actually coached by a couple of other people, so it shows we’ve all worked together to make sure she meetsher goals.

“I definitely don’t want to take anything away from Westsider. That program did an amazing job for Mariza They put a lot of effort into her over the years, to the point where she was good enough to be with our program and we could put in some finishing touches.”

Now approachingher Grade 12 year, Nasu must decide whether to pursue international or university competition after high school. If choosing the former, she’ll need to put on muscle in order to make the 50-kg weight class (the lightest offered to adult female wrestlers overseas). Before that, however, keep an eye out for Nasu at the U17 World Championships on now until Aug. 3 in Athens, Greece.

WoodfibreLNG General Partner Inc. isproposing to changethe WoodfibreLNG project, locatedapproximately 7kms southwestof Squamish, B.C. Theyseek to add asecondFloatel(a retrofitted cruiseship forworkeraccommodation) to bemooredsouthofthe existing Floatel.

TheEAOisseekingpublic feedbackontheproposedchangesfromJuly 8-August2,2025

TheEAOisholding apublic commentperiod ontheproposedchanges to theprojectand is seekingpublic feedbacktounderstandpotential impactsspecifically relatedtothechanges. Learnmoreaboutthe proposaland telluswhatisimportanttoyou: engage.eao.gov.bc.ca/Woodfibre-A4

Youmay alsosubmit comments by mail: WoodfibreLNG Project, PObox9426, StnProvGovt, Victoria,B.C.V8W9V1

CLASSIFIEDS

Get theaddedpunch tomakeyour businessad standout witha classifieddisplayad. Freeaddesign, with colourandotheroptions. Contact asales reptoday! Obituaries –InPrintand Onlineinour Local CommunityNews With Picture&FreeColour Deadline:Monday3pm

DEADLINE FORPRINTADS: MONDAY BEFORE 11:30AM

ShirleyLorraine(Dav VandeVliert

November17,1935 –July 25, 2025

Withheavyhearts,weannouncethepeaceful passingofourbelovedmother,grandmother, great-grandmother,sister,auntie,motherin-law, andfriend,ShirleyLorraine(Davis) VandeVliert,onJuly25,2025, at the ageof89.

BorninLashburn,SK,andraisedinDavidson, SK,Shirleybuilt aliferooted in hardwork,resilience,andlovefor family.She raisedfourdaughtersandhad asuccessfulcareerasanexecutiveadministrator, eventually owningher ownaccountingserviceinSquamish,BC,untilher retirement.

Shirleywas aspiritedandcreativesoulwith acontagious smilethatcould brightenany room.Shewasvivaciousandhumourous,alwayssharing her pies, bakingand ameal,alongwithlaughter,withfamilyandfriends.

Shewillberememberedforhergenerosity,artisticheart,andunwavering ability tofindbeautyinlife’ssimplemoments.Herlegacylivesonthroughherchildren, grandchildren,great-grandchildren, siblings,nieces,nephews,andthe many friendswhoselivesshetouched.

Noservicewill be held. Amemorial videowillbepostedonShirley’sFacebook page,andanemailedlinkwillbeprovideduponrequest(tjmcrae04@gmail.com). In lieuofflowers,donationscanbemadeinShirley'snametotheSquamish Auxiliarywhereshewas adedicatedcontributorandvolunteer.

Auxiliary e

"Donotgowherethepathmaylead, eadwherethereisnopathandleavea trail." –Ralph Waldo Em

m

DonaldHector

Robson

JimMcRae

December5,1955 –December29,2024

Itiswithdeepsadnessthatweannouncethepassing of JimMcRae.BorninJanuary 1963, Jimwas raised in Squamish by hisparents,Don andLu, andspent much of hislifeinthe community he called home.

Donpassedawaypeacefully at home,aftera courageous battle with cancer,surroundedbyhis belovedfamily and hisloyaldogs.Donwasamanwhosekindness,generosity, andgentle nature touchedall whoknewhim.

Jimhad adiverse andpassionatecareer.As a young adult, he earned hispilot’slicense,a passion that stayed with himthroughouthis life. He ownedand operated Sea-to-Sky Air,a charterairline offering floatplaneservicesand pilot training.Jim also spentmanyyears in thelogging industry,working asa faller in Squamish andlater as amachine operator in Campbell River.

GrowingupinSquamish, Don’slifewas filled with adventures—whether he wasfishing,dirt biking,playing pool,orhangingout with hisclose friends.Donhada greenthumb, enjoyedbeingout in nature,and wasa nonjudgmentalpersonwho wouldhelpanyone in need,no matterthecircumstance.Hefoundfulfillmentinthesimple momentsthatbroughtpeopletogether.Familyandfriends were always welcometodropinfor avisit, enjoyinghis good senseofhumor andwarmhospitality.Don hada numberofcherished dogs throughouthislife, with Marina,Betty,and Tuffinobeing hismostrecentloyalcompanions.Donbeganhis workingyearsatWeldwood Sawmill before spendingmanyyears at thehelmofSquamishTug andSquamishWater Taxion Howe Sound.

Hewas adevoted father,raising hisdaughter, Taylor andson,Max in Squamish. Jimwas akind, caring,and easygoingman,alwaysthere to support those aroundhimthrough challengingtimes.Heparticularlyenjoyed family BBQs in the backyard wheneveryone wastogether. He wasalsoveryexcited to becomea grandfatherlastyear,withLandonMcRaejoiningthefamilyattheendofDecember.

Jim lovedthe outdoors, especially fishing.In2018, he movedtoCampbell River andboughta boat so he couldspend even more time on thewater.He also enjoyedvacationing with hisfamilyin Hawaii andtaking road tripsdown theBajainMexico, always lookingforward totime by theoceanandinthe sun.

Donispredeceased byhis father,Bob Robson, andhis sister,Deb Robson. Hewill be deeply missedbyhislovingspouse, LornaRodd;hismother, EthelRobson;hisbrother, GaryRobson (Jan); andhis sister,Brenda Robson. Hewill also be fondlyremembered byhisnieces,Dawnandherchildren,HaileyandJackson;Kyla(Matt)andtheirchildren, AddisonandEmme;Meghan(Scott)andtheirson,Parker;andhisnephew,Bill.Hewill also be remembered by many good friends.

Jimissurvivedbyhis brotherDave, hischildrenTaylor(James) and Max(Megan),and hisgrandsonLandon. He will be profoundly missed byhis family,friends,and allwhohadthe pleasure of knowinghim.

Don’s memory will be cherishedbyall whoknewhim. Hewillbedeeplymissedand lovinglyremembered.

Amemorial servicewillbeheldatthe Squamish Funeral Chapel(40440 Tantalus Road,Garibaldi Highlands),on Saturday, August 9th, at 11:00 AM.Reception to follow.

AcelebrationofDon’slifewill beheld at SquamishFuneralChapel onApril11at1:00PM. To sign thebookof condolences, pleasegoto squamishfuneralchapel.com

BUILDINGOURCOMMUNITY

Ave, Squamish

&WellnessPlan

HEAVYEQUIPMENTOPERATOR– Minimum 5yearsor 5,000hoursoperatingexperience onexcavator.Full-time,Monday –Friday. $33-$46perhour.

CRUSHING &EARTHWORKSMANAGER– Musthave experience withmobile crushing plant andheavycivilconstruction.$33-$46 per hour.

CONSTRUCTIONLABOURER– Greatopportunity tolearnon-the-job.Staminafor physically demandingworkandperseverance to brave inclementweather required. Previousexperiencepreferredbut notrequired.Trainingprovided. $28-$33perhour.

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TRUCKDRIVER –BCDLClass1orClass 3withair brakesrequired.Manualtransmission. 2yearsexperiencepreferred.$35-$41.50perhour.

ACROSS

1. Pens

5.Had food

8.Spellingmistake

12.Sports competition

13.Brother’ssib

14.Riversource

15.Churchdistricts

17.Few and farbetween

18. Robbed

19.Detailedaccounts

21.Doin,as adragon

23. Tan

24.Iglooblock

26.Toss

28. Father

32. Foodfish

34. Container

36.Cabbagedish

37.Gardenstarters

39.Beill

41.Spanishgold

42. Center

44.Sodas

46.Plots

50.Ofthenose

53.Inadequate

54.Sneakercord

56.Unused

57.Pullalong 58.Strays

59.Urgent want 60.Lad

61.Breadgrains

DOWN

1.Naughtykids 2. Tidy

3.Lampfluid

4.Silent

5. Fireresidue

6.Cakelayer

7. Roadcurves

8.Kinglychairs

9. 52 weeks

10.Fragment

11. Keatspoems

16. Closeup

20.Tavern

22.Notme

24.“____Impossible”

25. Prompter’soffering

27.Bathing-suit top

29.Wordlist

30.Senseofhearing

31.Noah’snumber

33. Clung

35.Smallbite

38.Amountofmoney

40.Unaccompanied

43.Defeats

45.Lighter

46. Turn

47.Morse____

48.____ inone

49.Goaway!

51. Unitofland

52.Minus

55. Personal Crossword puzzleanswers use Americanspelling

LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:

HOROSCOPE WEEKOFJULY31,

ARIES March21-April19

Acolleague’s departure could pave the wayfor your promotion. Useyourvacation to takeastepbackand clarify yourplans.Yourfriends may inviteyou onanenergizing getawayorarelaxingretreat.

TAURUS April20-May20

You’ll participateinvarious activities offered by your communityormunicipality this week.Yourdetermination willdriveyou to takeon newprojects.Evenifyou’re reserved by nature, nothing will stop you from turningyour ideasinto reality.

GEMINI May21-June20

Realizingyourdreams takestimeand patience. Collaboratingwithothers will be keytoachievingyourgoals. Sometimes,you must clearthe airand startfresh.

CANCER June21-July22

You’llneed to be patient in both yourpersonaland professionallife to reachan agreement. Avoid getting bogged down by the same old conflicts.Ifyou need to settlea legalmatterincourt,luckwill be on yourside.

LEO July23-Aug.22

This week,yourdoctormight finallyfindthe righttreatment for yourhealthissue. At work, anunexpectedadvancement could be onthehorizon. In yourromantic life,your significantother maypropose aserious commitment.

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You’llachieve animpressive feat that fills you withpride. You’llhelp someoneinneed by lendingalisteningear.You’ll earntheirheartfeltgratitude. At work,you’ll be taskedwith more responsibilities.

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Your childrenorelderly parentswill need your undividedattentionthis week.You won’thesitateto dedicateyourtimeandenergy to supportthem.Inyour relationship,you’llopenly expressyourlove.

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Youmay consider goingback to schoolortakingashort trainingcoursetoenrichyour career.Evenifyou’reshorton timeandneed to putinalot of effort, you’llaccomplisha meaningful goalthatmakes you proud.

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You’ll work overtimethis weekand begenerously compensated.This will boost yoursalaryandimproveyour workingconditionsinthe long run. You’ll be showeredwith love andaffection by your romantic partner.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan.19

You’ll startapromisingand well-payingnew job. Thisnew position willallowyou to save moneyandminimizethe financial burdensthathave beenholdingyou back from true happiness for toolong.

AQUARIUS Jan.20-Feb.18

Your strong intuitionandvivid imagination willhelp you set yourpriorities straight and designafuturethat’sright for you.Thisnewfoundmental clarity will guide you alongthe rightpath.

PISCES Feb. 19-March20

You’llorganizealarge gatheringthis week.Your charismawill captivate everyonearound you.After reflectingonyourromantic relationship,you mayfindthat you need to takeastepbackto rekindlethe flame.

HOWTOPLAY: Fillinthegridsothat every row, every columnand every 3x3box contains thenumbers1through 9onlyonce. Each 3x3box isoutlinedwith adarker line. Youalreadyhave afew numbers to getyou started. Remember: youmust not repeatthenumbers1through 9in thesameline, columnor 3x3box.

Holy Communionand MorningWorship

Sundays at 10:00AM Rev. Cameron Gutjahr 1930Diamond Road 604-898-5100

www.squamishanglicanchurch.ca info@squamishanglicanchurch.ca

Exalting Jesus,EquippingHis Followers,Engaging theWorld

WorshipService Sundays10am

onourwebsite and FacebookLive 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org

SUDOKU

SERVINGSQUAMISHAREA