Squamish Nation opens immersion program for member children in Squamish Valley
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026
PAGE 19
NORTH TO ALASKA
Experienced adventurer heading on kayak trip of a lifetime
TRAGIC WEEKEND: Police are urging caution on lakes and rivers in the Sea to Sky Corridor after responding to three separate incidents in less than a week—two involving missing paddlers and another that ended with an officer entering the Squamish River to rescue a man clinging to a log. Murrin Provincial Park remained closed as of press deadline as first responders continued the search for the two paddleboarders who went under on Browning Lake Saturday afternoon and did not resurface. Another paddleboarder is missing from Alta Lake, the biggest lake in Whistler
FORMER RESIDENT SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL
Adriaan Schipper, 70, now resides in North Vancouver
LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca
Content warning: This story contains descriptions of child sexual abuse.
Aformer Squamish resident has been sentenced to 15 months in jail and 24 months of probation for charges related to child sexual abuse and exploitation material
Adriaan Schipper, who now lives on the North Shore, appeared in North Vancouver provincial court May 27 for a sentencing decision by Judge Ariana Ward
On Feb. 24, 2025, Schipper pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAM) and one count of transmitting, making available, distributing, selling, advertising, importing or exporting CSAM
He was arrested in Squamish on April 27, 2023, following an investigation by Sea to Sky RCMP, which uncovered more than 1,000 images and videos of abusive files. The material included depictions of sadism, bestiality, penetrative and non-penetrative acts, child nudity and child sexual activity
Part of the police investigation included communications with other individuals online, in which Schipper discussed, received and distributed CSAM.
COURT: Continued on 2
4
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
EAGLEWINDGEM
LANGUAGE CHANGES AROUND CSAM
Before delivering her decision, Ward grounded her reasoning in language that reflects what she described as an adequate depiction of the material
“The phrase child pornography does not properly capture what these images and videos represent Pornography makes it sound like what is being depicted is consensual or taking place between two actors,” she said “These are not actors, and the activity is not consensual.”
She noted that in 2025, Parliament renamed the term child pornography to child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
Ward also addressed attitudes she observed in Schipper’s online communications.
“These are images and videos that show children being sexually abused. Those who consume this material are not ‘open-minded’ or ‘cool,’ nor should non-consumers be considered ‘prude’ or ‘old-fashioned.’ This is how Mr Schipper describes consumers versus non-consumers in some of his online conversations. Let me be clear, consumers of this material are viewing children being abused nothing about what they’re doing is cool or open-minded,” she said
OLIVER SCALE CATEGORIZATION OF CSAM
To assess the severity of Schipper’s collection, Ward applied the Oliver Scale, a five-category framework used to evaluate the gravity of CSAM offences His catalogue spanned all five categories.
Category 1 involves erotic posing without sexual activity. Category 2 involves sexual activity between children or by the child alone. Category 3 covers non-penetrative sexual activity between adults and children. Category 4 involves penetrative sexual activity between adults and children. Category 5, the most serious, involves sadistic acts or bestiality involving children.
SENTENCE TERMS
The terms of Schipper’s sentence require him to keep the peace and display good behaviour, appear in court when required, report to his probation officer within one day of release and notify probation of any changes to his name, address, employment or occupation
He cannot hold employment or volunteer in any role that places him in a position of trust or authority over anyone under 16 He cannot have a relationship with anyone who has children under 16 or access to them, and cannot go to places where children under 16 are present or would reasonably be expected to be present, including parks, public swimming areas, daycares, school grounds, playgrounds and community centres. He is not permitted to have any contact, direct or indirect, with anyone under 16, except for incidental contact in public when they are accompanied by adults.
Schipper also faces extensive restrictions on internet use and electronic devices. He may possess only one phone and one tablet or computer at home, with written permission required for a second work device He must provide his MAC address, WiFi address and IP address to his probation officer. He cannot delete his internet history, own more than one SIM card per device, use a VPN or use apps that automatically delete communications He is not permitted to use social media where he has a profile, access pornography of any kind or access discussion forums about pornography. Police will have access to his device and IP information, and he cannot access public WiFi networks.
He also has a no-contact order with a specific individual for the duration of his sentence.
Schipper is required to attend counselling or education programs as directed by his probation officer, register under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) for 20 years and provide a DNA sample
‘GRAVITY OF HIS OFFENDING IS HIGH’
Crown counsel sought a term of two years less a day plus three years of probation, a DNA order and a 20-year SOIRA registration The defence asked for a 24-month conditional sentence with three years of probation.
“Having balanced the relative factors, I find that the appropriate sentence falls in between the positions advanced by counsel,” Ward said Ward reviewed available case law involving conditional sentences and found that none of the mitigating factors that have reduced sentences in similar cases—such as small collections of less severe content or significant health complications—applied to Schipper.
“None of these factors exist for Mr. Schipper. I have determined that a conditional sentence is not a fit and proportionate sentence in the circumstances of this case,” she said.
Ward noted that appellate authority in British Columbia underscores that incarceration is often required even for a single CSAM possession charge, stating that “jail gives meaningful effect to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence.”
“In this case, Mr Schipper has [pleaded] guilty to possession and the more serious offence of distribution of CSAM The gravity of his offending is high, and his moral culpability is also high,” she said
While Ward acknowledged mitigating factors—including Schipper’s age of 70, his lack of a criminal record and his guilty plea—she found a jail term appropriate.
‘SPIRITUAL BYPASSING’
Another factor in Ward’s decision was the self-reports Schipper made to various therapists and psychiatrists following his arrest. She found those accounts were not reflective of the full nature of his offences as detailed in court proceedings, and noted his return to a Christian faith-based community and a vow of celibacy as overly simplistic solutions to deeply ‘offending behavior.’
“I believe it would be beneficial for Mr
Schipper to address his offending behaviours more in depth with a skilled clinician. My impression is that Mr Schipper is using spiritual ideas, practices, and beliefs to avoid confronting difficult emotions and psychological issues This attitude, along with his tendency to minimize his offending behaviour, creates a barrier to his prospect for rehabilitation Therapy is most effective when an individual accepts that he needs help and is willing to engage wholeheartedly in the work that he must do,” Ward said
The defence argued that serving a sentence in custody would have a disproportionate impact on Schipper due to his age and sexual orientation. Ward held that a custodial sentence was nonetheless appropriate.
“Jail is a difficult place for many people. No doubt some prisoners are exposed to discrimination, harassment, violence, and sexual assault. However, these are issues for the correctional authorities to address. While I recognize that my jail sentence may have a disproportionate impact on Mr Schipper because of his age and sexual orientation, I cannot use this potential hardship as the sole reason to decline to impose a custodial sentence, especially where one is otherwise warranted. If that were the case, then individuals with same-sex preferences could never be incarcerated,” she said
While Ward determined Schipper required time served in custody, she did not impose the length of sentence sought by the Crown.
“Schipper must serve a real jail sentence I am not satisfied that the range, as recommended by Crown counsel, is appropriate because it does not take into account the significant collateral consequences and the mitigating factors in this case, nor does it properly address the prospect of rehabilitation,” she said.
Ward recommended that correctional facilities consider his age and sexual orientation when placing him, and that he have access to psychological treatment while incarcerated.
He was handcuffed and taken away by the court sheriff after Ward’s decision
FREIGHT-FIRST PLAN COULD SAVE CN RAIL CORRIDOR: CONSULTANT
With CN’s one-year notice period set to expire on July 11, 2026, municipalities and First Nations along the Squamishto-100 Mile House rail corridor are scrambling for clarity on whether the province will help keep trains running
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
The vulnerability and urgency for local and regional governments in the saga around the set-to-be-discontinued CN rail corridor between Squamish and 100 Mile House has echoes of the old Clash song, “Should I stay or should I go.”
“Should I stay, or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble And if I stay, it will be double So come on and let me know.
This indecision’s bugging me.”
First Nations and municipalities, including Squamish, are rushing to figure out what can be done, without knowing for sure the desire of the provincial government, which holds more of the power in this relationship
There is a strong business case for a rail service being reinstituted between Prince George and Squamish, according to a presentation at council by Peter Scholz, a consultant with Cairnstone Planning
Scholz, a land use and transportation planner, presented “Prince George to North Vancouver Railway: Transitioning from Class 1 Management” at council’s committee of the whole meeting on May 26.
Scholz has been presenting to local governments along the rail corridor.
Phase 1 of the study Scholz spoke to, was funded by the Northern Development Initiative Trust.
The backdrop of this presentation is that in July of 2025, CN disclosed in its three-year plan to go—discontinue operating the segment of track between Squamish and 100 Mile House.
The corridor is owned by the provincial government through the BC Railway Company
and operated by CN under long-term agreements
‘SET ME FREE’
The Canada Transportation Act sets out steps CN must take to be relieved of the line.
First, the corporation isn’t allowed to do anything until the plan has been publicly known for a year, which is up on July 11, 2026, creating some urgency for local governments who want to see the line taken over, not dismantled.
Next, the railway must “publicly advertise the railway line’s availability or any operating interest that the railway company has in the line.”
Then it must negotiate with interested parties; offer to transfer all of its interest in the railway line to the applicable federal, provincial, and municipal governments and urban transit
authorities; and, finally, notify the Canadian Transportation Agency if the line will be discontinued.
Once the lease is done, others will be allowed to submit offers to operate along the corridor Without a viable option, the line could be sold for salvage.
Scholz is urging stakeholders like Squamish to push hard for the line to be saved, for its own sake.
‘EXACTLY WHO I’M SUPPOSED TO BE’: FREIGHT IS WHERE IT IS AT
He said, according to research, a combined freight and passenger line is financially viable along the to-be-discontinued portion of the rail corridor
It would mean converting some of the freight moved by truck onto the rail
“What it breaks down to is about one-third of the existing [trucking] traffic would need to switch to track and you’d have a functional service and we expect the number would increase with time being driven by the external port.”
He said moving forward, a formal agreement with Squamish Terminals would strengthen the business case even more.
Scholz said he knows that there is a lot of support in Squamish for passenger rail service, but reminded councillors of the prospect of freight.
“You also have to think of Squamish as being the port of the Cariboo. The Port of Vancouver has become very congested and is recognized as a generally inefficiently run port So the import-export functions to the B.C. Interior would be naturally drawn to the port of Squamish,” he said
He added that passenger rail services don’t pay
for themselves in North America.
“Passenger services have to be tacked on to freight services,” he said
Squamish industry and employment sectors would benefit from freight, he said
An example could be having a rail system for grocery delivery, he said, noting that is what many of the trucks coming into town are.
Scholz said, in his personal opinion, “the province of British Columbia has, from the beginning, not leveraged their role in this trackway to the maximum benefit of the people of British Columbia.”
‘THIS INDECISION’S BUGGING ME’
Coun Eric Andersen asked Scholz if the District and the other local governments and First Nations in the corridor should arrange to speak directly with BC Rail Company or direct attention elsewhere in the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
BC Rail Company (BCRC) is a provincial Crown corporation that owns the former BC Rail railway lands and infrastructure, which is leased to CN Rail
“I recommend that municipalities, local governments and First Nations should consider their interests, what they would like to see and take every opportunity to engage with all parties on that,” Scholz said.
He said that in a recent meeting, Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth said that the provincial government wouldn’t seek to give the line up to CN for scrap once the lease ends.
He pushed the District council to get that in writing.
“If the track is switched to CN, all bets are off,”
COUNCIL SEEKS ANSWERS ON WOODFIBRE LNG POWER LINE SHIFT
Move comes after Brackendale residents raise concerns over a newly proposed transmission line route
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
Concerns related to the Woodfibre LNG project were front and centre at Squamish council on May 19, when the Brackendale Owners and Tenants Association (BOATA) presented as a delegation
Following the presentation, both Woodfibre LNG and BC Hydro representatives told The Squamish Chief they heard the concerns and are planning a follow-up public meeting THE
ISSUE
The residents are upset about the planned BC Hydro transmission line through more than 40 Brackendale properties to power the Woodfibre LNG project. They say this is going ahead in spite of a commitment by BC Hydro in 2015 to use the existing 500 kilovolt transmission line on the west side of the Squamish River adjacent to the Woodfibre site.
They say that in the 11 intervening years, there was no consultation about the change BOATA were asking council for a letter demanding BC Hydro and Woodfibre LNG use the existing 500 kilovolt transmission line adjacent to the Woodfibre LNG site, rather than building a new line through Brackendale.
In the end, council voted to have the mayor write a letter supporting the 2015 plan and requesting that BC Hydro and Woodfibre LNG attend a future public council meeting to answer questions.
Woodfibre LNG is using electricity rather than natural gas to power the liquefaction process, thus the need for BC Hydro upgrades.
This is Stage 2 of BC Hydro’s work with Woodfibre LNG. Stage 1 was meeting Woodfibre LNG’s initial power requirements by connecting the facility to an existing power line. Stage 2 will add the new transmission line constructed within the existing BC Hydro right-of-way from the Cheekye Substation through Brackendale to the Woodfibre LNG facility.
More than 500 residents have signed a petition calling for a reconsideration of the current BC
/June9 /6:00- 7:30pm
Hydro route plan.
“The proposed transmission line through Brackendale would negatively impact more than 40 properties and valued community spaces, including Fisherman’s Park,” said presenter and Brackendale resident Vairdy Frail.
“Construction—expected to last more than two and a half years beginning in spring of 2028—would significantly disrupt homes and require the removal or relocation of yards, gardens, sheds, fences, play structures, etc.
Residents are concerned about increased noise, traffic, industrial activity, reduced access to outdoor spaces, along with the construction of a temporary access road through the right-of-way corridor.”
“In short, we believe this project would cause irreparable damage to Brackendale’s environment, culture, and community. It is seen as especially unjustified given that a viable alternative already exists to meet Woodfibre LNG’s power needs through the originally proposed 500 kV transmission line across the river.”
Resident Diane Gould challenged BC Hydro’s language around the safety of the power lines in terms of electric and magnetic fields (EMF), which are invisible forces found everywhere electricity is used.
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“Unlike many other countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, and China, which focus on the precautionary principle for public safety, Canada and, therefore, B.C. do not have uniform, legally binding legislation to limit EMFs from power lines in residential areas. This allows BC Hydro to ‘cherry-pick’ information from the WHO and Health Canada that supports their agenda,” she said
“BC Hydro refuses to acknowledge that human exposure from cramming a second high-powered transmission line within the current right-of-way ensures long-term EMF exposure
Some homes are less than one metre from the right-of-way. Therefore, children, families, and pets would be playing and spending time far too close to the lines.”
On the EMF issue, the Canadian government states the following:
“Power lines that distribute electricity around your home emit extremely low frequency EMF. These fields are strongest at their source. This means you are exposed to stronger extremely low EMFs when you are close to a source such as: right beside a transformer box, directly under a high voltage power line,” the Government of Canada website reads.
“As you move away, your level of exposure rapidly decreases. When you are inside your home, the electric fields from transformer boxes and high voltage power lines are often weaker than the fields from household electrical appliances.”
COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Though it was ultimately amended, Coun Chris Pettingill put forward a motion to support the letter that would express opposition to the 2026 plan and to support the 2015 plan.
A few council members were uncomfortable with the letter as it was proposed by Pettingill.
For example, Coun. Eric Andersen and Coun. Andrew Hamilton both expressed hesitation on taking a stand on something they ultimately didn’t fully understand.
“My preference would be to ask BC Hydro some questions on our own and with the
information that we’ve received rather than write a letter of support for BOATA at this time,”
Andersen said
Hamilton questioned the jurisdiction of the municipality on the issue.
“I’d like more information on this I’d be very happy to support a letter requesting additional clarity and information. It’s my understanding from looking at the BC Hydro maps, we already have two 230 kilovolt lines running through Squamish through residential areas,” he said
“I’m torn here by the jurisdiction piece, where, when a utility has a right-of-way, that’s what right -of-way means. They have the right to put the utility there. And so I struggle right now with the balance between respecting the jurisdictions that are in our land use policies and the actual challenges that residents are going to face with the … use of that right-of-way.”
Mayor Armand Hurford put forward an amendment—that passed unanimously—that council direct the mayor to write a letter supporting the original 2015 plan and asking for further explanation from BC Hydro and Woodfibre LNG at a future council meeting.
“I think this is a good balance and also leaves the door open for dialogue so that they stand a chance of coming to speak to us and with the community.”
In voicing her support for this route, Coun Jenna Stoner said she wanted it to be very clear that the 2015 route was the one that was understood and had council earlier support. Andersen voiced his support for this version of the letter, saying this isn’t the first time Squamish has seen controversy around BC Hydro plans.
“Squamish has been here before many times. We have a number of hydro transmission corridors through our valley, and they’ve all been controversial,” he said.
“[Former] mayor [Pat] Brennan campaigned against BC Hydro’s lack of consultation and planning. We have a giant scar across the river, and on the other side of that line at Dunsmuir, the substation was bombed by protesters. So,
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF The Cheekye substation
BC HYDRO: Continued on 5
he said.
‘THERE WILL BE TROUBLE’
Scholz also questioned the condition of the current track, saying time is of the essence in more ways than one.
“If we move at the pace we have been moving at we will not have ready operations after Rocky Mountaineer ceases the season in October, and we don’t know if they’re going to start again in March,” he said.
“And if there isn’t maintenance and preparation in winter that means the track will not be operational in summer of 2027.”
He said once the track is non-operational, it quickly gets much more costly to bring it up to standard
‘SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?’
Scholz reiterated that getting the rail line taken over and soon is in everyone’s best interest.
“[A] win for the First Nations, win for the feds, win for the province, win for the local governments, win for CN, win for the short line,” he said
“If you have freight trains regularly using the port of Squamish and providing grocery services at lower cost throughout central and northern British Columbia along this railway through roll-on-roll-off systems, everyone will benefit including government, which will have increased tax revenue from all the increased economic activity, and CN will benefit because there will be just increased short-haul aggregation supply from small and medium enterprises through central British Columbia which will be transfer points at
Quesnel or Prince George into the main system.”
Council members decided later in the May 26 council meeting to have the mayor write a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Transit and BC Rail Company requesting a delegation meeting with partners along the rail line to seek clarity on the province’s approach to CN withdrawal
This was set to be ratified by council on June 2.
‘SO COME ON AND LET ME KNOW’
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit reiterated to The Squamish Chief that the federal government, under the Canada Transportation Act, regulates rail discontinuance and sets out a multi-step process that CN must follow The first step of this process, related to the advance notice period, is happening now.
Asked specifically about Farnworth saying in a meeting that the province wouldn’t seek to give the line up to CN for scrap once the lease ends, as Scholz stated, the spokesperson did not respond to that question.
The spokesperson did say the ministry is actively engaged and has already met with CN leadership to better understand their decision to discontinue the portion of the line from Squamish
“The ministry, in collaboration with the BC Railway Company, is assessing available options and gathering additional information,” the spokesperson said “The province recognizes the strategic importance of preserving transportation corridors where possible This rail line is part of a larger transportation network and could continue to play a role in moving goods and connecting communities.”
9BEACH DRIVE
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we’ve been here before and Hydro knows that or should know that. So, I welcome that engagement with BC Hydro, and I believe that we should acknowledge the well-presented concerns and information from the Brackendale Owners and Tenants Association.”
(Andersen was referring to the bombing in Dunsmuir on Vancouver Island on May 31, 1982. The BC Hydro substation was dynamited by an eco-extremist group called Direct Action The group said they were protesting industrial expansion Those responsible were dubbed The Squamish Five as they had training grounds near the Tantalus lookout.)
‘ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN REDUCED’
For its part, in a joint statement, Woodfibre LNG and BC Hydro told The Squamish Chief the concerns have been heard loud and clear.
“Both BC Hydro and Woodfibre LNG understand that residents have questions about the approach being considered today—especially how it compares to the options reviewed in 2015, and why some residents preferred the 500-kilovolt option at the time,” the statement reads.
“A key difference comes down to how much electricity the project needs now compared to
what was expected in 2015. Back then, the 500-kilovolt option was studied based on a much higher projected demand. Since then, Woodfibre’s electricity requirements have been reduced. With that updated information, BC Hydro reassessed the options to ensure the solutions match today’s needs.
Based on this review, the 500-kilovolt option is no longer considered the more practical approach. It would provide far more capacity than required—essentially overbuilding the system—and wouldn’t align with Woodfibre’s project timeline,” the statement continues.
“The solution shared at the March 31 open house instead focuses on using the existing 138-kilovolt system, including the current right-of-way through Brackendale. This approach builds on infrastructure that’s already in place, limits the need for new construction and better matches the actual electricity demand—while still meeting reliability requirements and project timelines.”
“We heard clearly at the open house that some residents would like us to revisit the 2015 proposal. We take that feedback seriously. Our team is reviewing the earlier studies and materials, and we’re working to schedule a follow-up meeting to share what we’ve found, answer questions, and walk through how different options are evaluated. “
$1,598,000
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OPEN SUN. 2-4PM
FURRYCREEK 43 POINT TERRACE $1,899,000
This newlisting gets the early morning sun and overlooksthatpart of Oliver’s Landing thatlooks outoverthe boats in the Bay. Remember only 5minutes froBritania Beach, 14minutestoSquamish and 22 minutes to Caulfield shopping. Addtothisthe Furry Creek Golf Courseonly 4minutesaway Don’t forget thereisalso the indoor pool, exercise room and cardplaying room. Idid this project in 1999,Ilivehereand Ilove it.
BC HYDRO:
HOUSING GROUP CITES PROVINCIAL PROGRAM PAUSE IN PUSH TO MAINTAIN MUNICIPAL SUPPORT
Squamish Housing says its financial outlook changed after the province cancelled and indefinitely suspended a BC Housing Community Housing Fund round that was expected to help deliver about 100 affordable rentals
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
Squamish Community Housing Society (Housing Squamish) is asking to maintain the status quo on its funding from the District, rather than see a reduction, due to the current challenging economy.
Sarah Ellis, executive director of Housing Squamish, presented at council’s committee of the whole meeting on May 26
“We are now navigating a time of economic uncertainty, tightened senior government budgets for affordable housing, and unforeseen senior government decisions,” she said.
Squamish Housing’s original 2025-2029 Contribution Agreement with the District set the municipality’s operating contribution to the housing society at $500,000 per year for 2025 and 2026, and then reduced this contribution for 2027 and 2028 to $450,000 annually
working with the District for 100 affordable rentals on municipality-owned land at Government Road and Centennial Way, securing and investing over $500,000 to get the project to shovel-ready status in order to qualify for the BC Housing Community Housing Fund, which Housing Squamish applied for last July
“We were deeply disappointed by the province’s decision earlier this year to cancel that funding round and indefinitely suspend the program, one of several actions taken in the last provincial budget to re-pace or delay affordable housing commitments.”
The project represented a significant portion of the society’s operating revenue annually for 2027 and 2028, Ellis said, which would have filled the loss in revenue from the planned step down in District funding.
“This step down in funding of about $50,000 was based on the society’s capacity to raise revenue from a pipeline of development and acquisition projects,” Ellis said But times have changed and the society is requesting to maintain that $500,000 amount for 2027 and 2028, deferring the step down to 2029
Ultimately, council unanimously voted to refer the request for an additional $50,000 next year to be included in the 2027 budgeting process.
Ellis noted that Squamish’s rental housing
vacancy is well below 1% A healthy community has a vacancy rate above 3%, she said
The cost of rentals has not kept pace with income, she added.
For example, the monthly price for a two-bedroom rental in town has gone up 75% from 2018 to 2025, she said, quoting Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation stats.
Housing Squamish has a waiting list of 300 households hoping for available rental housing.
That list, she said, is “made up of couples, singles, families, and seniors.”
“With all of this need in mind, our goal is to bridge these gaps in housing need, generally serving working or retired households earning a broad range of incomes between roughly $45,000 and $135,000 a year who live in Squamish and who don’t require ongoing supports and services directly attached to their housing,” she said.
“Our tenanting policy prioritizes households where at least one member works a minimum of 20 hours a week in Squamish or is retired, having previously worked in Squamish.”
The organization is working on providing a wide range of housing options.
She noted that two years into the current partnership agreement and four years since the organization began, it has taken a $2-million investment from the District and turned it into $17.5 million in partner investment in housing.
“This is almost a 10 times return on investment in a very short period of time and we believe an even higher return is possible as we grow and scale,” she said.
Since 2023, Housing Squamish has brought 48 homes under its management, including the co-purchase of Tantalus Manor with Hiyám Housing Society and an operator agreement for eight homes at Highline, in the Garibaldi Springs neighbourhood.
THE CHALLENGES
Ellis noted that Housing Squamish had been
In a letter submitted to council, Ellis said that the project was supposed to provide $48,000 per year in operating revenue for the society for 2027 and 2028
“This has happened alongside other setbacks to our pipeline of projects, including changing market conditions, slowing down the delivery of district secured (perpetually affordable housing) units, challenges accessing free or low-cost land essential to our projects, and limited capital to support pre-development costs and close equity gaps in our projects,” Ellis said She said the organization is adapting and pivoting, but is now conservatively projecting no revenue from development projects in 2027
“This reflects the current government funding environment for development.”
SAMPLE COUNCIL COMMENTS
In voicing their support for granting Ellis’ request, councillors praised Housing Squamish.
“I really, really appreciated the big audacious goals and it’s OK if we need to pivot along the way,” said Coun Jenna Stoner “We still hold that same vision for our community that we can bring homes to those who need them It just might take us a little bit longer and that’s OK.”
Stoner also praised fellow council members for the work the last few years to squirrel away some money in the affordable housing reserve fund, which could help fill the funding gap for Housing Squamish
Mayor Armand Hurford spoke to the worsening crisis around housing in Squamish and thus the continuing importance of the work Housing Squamish is tasked with “Happy to support this and just thank you for all the work that you and your team are doing,” said Hurford. “Delivering housing to our community is both incredibly important and we’re learning more and more about the many ways that it’s extremely challenging to do so. I think this ask is reasonable … (with) these other orders of government stepping back from this file broadly. But the crisis persists and ever worsens in my opinion.”
FILE PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
Housing Squamish has an operating agreement for eight homes at Highline, in the Garibaldi Springs neighbourhood.
Britannia Mine Museum gratefully acknowledges theircommunity sponsors:
BLACK BEAR CHARGES RUNNER NEAR SQUAMISH ESTUARY
A
man sustained minor injuries after a sow bear swiped at him when he surprised her cubs near Spit Road
LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca
Aman running in the Squamish Estuary was minorly injured by a black bear sow while running alone on May 25
The incident happened around 7 p.m., as the runner was accessing trails near Spit Road
“He came upon two bears suddenly, and then a sow bear [She] charged him with a warning and swiped at him a few times,” said Calvin Rochon, BC Conservation Officer Service member for the Sea to Sky Zone
“With the help of other members of the public, by making themselves look large, yelling aggressively at the bear, they were able to safely haze the bear off,” he said.
The man’s injuries are described as minor, and BC Emergency Health Services were not called, according to Rochon. Officers swept the area and found the sow and her cubs. Because the bear responded defensively, officers left them and are urging the public to avoid the area
“For a sow that has small cubs of the year, it is regular behaviour to act defensively when a perceived threat goes near her cubs So this is quite normal, and just really, again, asking people to avoid the area, to avoid this conflict happening again,” he said
Officers installed trail blockers and signage, and are stationed in the area and will be actively enforcing and fining anyone with an off-leash dog
“We came back early this morning and are doing some enforcement on off-leash dogs in the wildlife management area, and sitting at the trailhead asking members of the public to not
enter the area.”
Having an off-leash dog is illegal in the wildlife management area where the bear charging happened Rochon says dog owners can face fines of $300 for not following the rules.
“Always keep the dogs on leash when walking in bear habitat. It is a legal obligation to do so in the wildlife management area, also to make noise when walking through bear habitat, and to carry spray when applicable,” he said
The Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is 673 hectares of land that was designated for “[m]aintenance and restoration of significant habitat for fish and wildlife species,” according to the Province
The land provides a rich habitat for wildlife, and bears can often be seen feeding in the area.
According to WildsafeBC, a provincial non-profit that aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict, bears’ diets are 80% vegetation. When they come out of their dens in the spring, they forage for vegetation including horsetails, grasses and skunk cabbage.
Skunk cabbage grows in swampy areas and in gentle streams like the estuary.
“It is zoned as that for this reason, so that the wildlife has… somewhere that they can have a natural space to forage and live their natural lives,” Rochon said
In October 2025, a woman was attacked and
minorly injured by a black bear while walking her dog in this part of Squamish.
The estuary is popular for walking, running and dog-walking throughout the year
Aside from leashing pets in the WMA, WildSafeBC says activities like biking and running require extra caution.
“When mountain biking or running, you may be travelling relatively quietly and at a higher rate of speed. This can increase your chances of surprising a bear Also, the higher speed may also trigger a chase response Slow down around blind corners and call out more frequently to avoid surprising a bear.”
Rochon says they don’t believe this sow has been involved in any other conflicts.
“We’re just thankful that the victims are saying just minor injuries again. Bears are our top predator; they’re to be taken seriously, and people need to have a healthy respect of them, and give them their space,” he said.
According to WildSafeBC, on average, there is less than one fatal black bear attack on humans every three years in B.C.
“We’re just really asking people to avoid the areas, and when even when the areas reopen, to make sure to have their dogs on leash, make noise when walking through the woods, and to carry bear spray when applicable, if walking alone,” said Rochon
Annual MunicipalReport
Sprinkler and AutomatedIrrigation
Twodaysper week based on street address.
•Odd side: Thursdays and Sundays
•Evenside: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Sprinkler
4–10 am and 7–10 pm
AutomatedIrrigation 10 pm–4 am
Hand Watering and Drip Irrigation
Trees,flowers,shrubs or gardens is allowedanytime.
Trytolimit your watering to onehour!
Formoreinformation and to see the full water restrictions,head to our website:
Noticeisherebygiven thatthe DistrictofSquamish 2025 Annual Municipal Reportwill be presented at the June16, 2026, Special Business Meeting in Council Chambers,Municipal Hall,located at 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, B.C.
In person at Municipal Hall (37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, B.C.), MondaytoFriday: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Online at squamish.ca/annualreport
Questions and input fromthe public arewelcome and maybesubmitted by:
•Email to info@squamish.ca
•Mail to PO Box310, Squamish, B.C., V8B 0A3
•Hand deliveryto37955 Second Avenue,Squamish
Thedeadline forwritten submissions is 12 p.m. on June 16, 2026.
Council willreceivethe 2025 Annual Reportat the June 16,2026 Special Business Meeting.
Members of the public can watch the Council meeting in person or view the livestream at squamish.ca/live-meetings
ActiveKids Camp -FullWeek (7–9
atRose Park
MondaytoFriday, 9 am–4 pm
Spots still available! These camps offer afun, supportiveenvironment wherechildren of all abilities andneeds are welcomed and celebrated.Each day is filled with choicebased,kid-led adventures —fromactive group games andparkplaytoarts&crafts, naturewalks,sports and outdoor exploration.
All About AnimalsCamp (7–12YRS) at Brennan Park Recreation Centre
YRS)
PursuanttoSections 98 and 99 of the Community Charter, municipalities in British Columbia are required to produceanannual reportbeforeJune 30 each year and to make the reportavailable for public inspection. Theannual reportmust include the following:
•The audited annual financial statements forthe previous year
•Information and amounts of each permissivetax exemption provided
•A reportrespecting municipal services and operations forthe previous year
• Aprogress reportrespecting the previous year in relation to the objectives and measures established forthatyear.
•Any declarations of disqualifications made under Section 111 of the CommunityCharter.
•A statementofmunicipal objectives,and the measures thatwill be used to determine progress respecting those objectives, forthe current and next year.
•Any other information the Council considersadvisable.
OpenGym at theWestwinds (55+YRS)
atthe Westwinds
Tuesdaysand Thursdays
Areyou 55+ and want access to fitness equipment? Signupfor an Open Gym session todaytokick offyourown independent workout routine and train at your ownpace
June 29 to July 3, 9 am–4 pm
Campers will take partinavarietyofart projects and activegames each day whilelearning about nature and wildlifeliving in Squamish and beyond.This camp will go swimminginthe pool
Pre-payatThe 55 ActivityCentre, Brennan Park Recreation Centre or online.
Iceout forsummer!
Thank youtoeveryone fora fantastic season. We areofficially on break and will see youback on the ice.
Checkout the arena andpool schedules!
POSSIBLE WIND PILOTS AND A RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY EMERGE IN COUNCIL’S LATEST CLIMATE UPDATE
A revamped landfill gas system and tougher standards for new construction are emerging as two of Squamish’s biggest levers for cutting greenhouse gases
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
Alot has been accomplished to make the municipality more climate friendly, but more work has to be done, according to a recent District staff report to council.
Ian Picketts, District manager of climate change and sustainability presented a community climate action plan progress (CCAP) update to council at the committee of the whole meeting on May 26.
“There has been a lot of progress on CCAP implementation and this is ongoing, including but not limited to zero waste, circularity planning, active transportation, transit, EVs and home efficiency,” said Picketts. “But there’s obviously and certainly a lot of work that still needs to be done both by the sustainability department and through other departments throughout our organization.”
Notably, Picketts said that updated 2025 emissions projections show that due to actions taken to date, even with a 2.9% year-over-year projected population growth, Squamish should achieve a 90% per capita emissions reduction by 2050, with 60% overall reductions
“And we believe with new technologies and the potential to offset remaining emissions, this is close enough that we will get to net zero by 2050,” he said
“The reductions are mostly influenced by some key accomplished actions of our landfill gas system most notably and the adoption of the zero carbon step code for new buildings, others are EV mandates and the low carbon fuel standards which reside with other levels of government.”
BACKGROUND
In July 2019, the then council declared a climate emergency and asked staff to create a climate mitigation plan for the municipality
The resulting CCAP in 2020 works toward reducing the District’s community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030, and to guide Squamish toward net-zero emissions by 2050
The plan is to be updated every few years. Council approved the updated plan in May of 2025
Over the last year, some of the key work that District staff have been doing to meet the CCPAC objectives include, among a long list of others, continuing to expand the landfill gas (LFG) system, and launching the free Wood Reuse Pilot Program, which allows locals to salvage wood that is suitable for reuse from the landfill. That pilot program began in April.
BIG MOVES
The latest 2025 implementation update has six
The Reusable Wood Program at the landfill has been a hit, say District staff
“Big Moves,” 22 strategies and 67 actions in it
Big Move 1 is “closing the loop on waste.” The 2050 stated vision is “our community diverts all organics and recovers value from waste,” reads the staff report The 2030 goal is to decrease landfill gas emissions by 90%.
The second Big Move goal is “Shift Beyond the Car,” which includes active transportation projects, working toward regional transit, and accomplishments like Open Street Day, as well as ideas like “paid parking implemented in key tourism hotspots.”
Picketts noted the District’s own EV chargers.
“This has taken some time, but we do now operate community charging infrastructure,” he said.
There are three new Level 3 chargers at Brennan Park Recreation Centre and eight new Level 2 chargers at Brennan Park and downtown
'The downtown chargers fulfill a very important need in our community because there are many garage orphans around downtown or people who live in multi-unit buildings who don’t have access to infrastructure themselves,” he said
Big Move 3 includes projects to decarbonize transportation
Big Move 4 is decarbonize existing buildings and is made up of projects like the Retrofit Assist Program, which is happening for another year, with the help of the Youth Climate Corps, and focusing more on multi-unit buildings, rather than single-family homes.
Big Move 5 is to construct better buildings.
Achievements under this mantle include that the District retained a consultant “to assist with creating an embodied carbon bylaw that will incentivize new developments to have lower
embodied emissions. The staff report to council says that this means emissions associated with the creation of the building Other steps of this project include performing modelling to determine baselines and targets and working to implement measures in a way that will not be costly or cumbersome
Big Move 6 is under the umbrella of other organizational actions.
An achievement here was the creation of a Corporate Strategic Energy Management Plan (CSEMP), in March of this year.
“This is a major strategic document that looks at corporate energy use and emissions together, and identifies strategic opportunities and priorities,” reads the report to council.
In other words, it looks at what the municipality is doing within its own organization and things it could do to help tackle climate change
GASSY TRASHY
As noted, a significant player in reducing emissions has been the work at the Squamish Landfill
The District has been extracting and flaring
methane since 2021
Matt Fallaise, solid waste technologist with the District, explained to council that the Squamish Landfill currently consists of eight vertical wells and 13 horizontal wells to extract methane.
“And I’m happy to report in 2025 that we extracted approximately 650 tonnes of methane. And to expand on that success, we recently completed the most recent lift of horizontal wells that we installed in November of 2025,” Fallaise said.
“And with that, we were adding eight new wellheads to the system. Three of these new wellheads are online and actively extracting with methane at the moment.”
These new wellheads have increased the flow approximately 15%, he added.
“Which has significantly stabilized the operations and has reduced system shutdowns.” In terms of next steps, Fallaise said the remaining five wellheads are currently offline, waiting for more waste to be in place to safely activate them
CLIMATE: Continued on 17
Callfor Expressions of Interest
TheDistrictofSquamishisseekingexpressions of interest to lease portions of theSquamishAdventure Centre.
Create astandoutretailexperienceinone of Squamish’s most visited destinations!Thisisa rare chance to secure ahigh-profile retailspaceright at the gatewaytothe SeatoSky Corridor. Locatedinside theiconicSquamish AdventureCentre, this space’s unparalleledvisibilityensures your business stands outtoeveryonedriving alongHighway 99
Formoreinformation or to apply, headto squamish.ca/adventure-centre-eoi orcontact NavTriplett,PortfolioManager at ntriplett@squamish.ca
OceanfrontPeninsula lands within Comprehensive DevelopmentZone No.69(CD-69), Squamish, B.C ,as shown on the Location Map.
Proposed Amendments
ThePhased DevelopmentAgreement(PDA) is a 20-year agreement with the developer,Matthews West DevelopmentLtd,thatexpires in 2035 and secures certain zoning provisions, containedwithin the agreement.This PDAamendmentproposes to delete the 207 rental unit maximumfromthe density regulations in the CD-69 zone.The overall densityof 1.15 FloorAreaRatio (FAR) maximumfor residential rental tenureuse would not change.This would allowfor an additional 42 rental units to beincluded as partofthe developmentproposalonLot Oof the Oceanfront.
View the Proposed Bylaw
Acopyofthe proposed Bylawand relatedinformation thathas been or maybeconsidered by Council may beinspectedonline or at MunicipalHall.
•Online at squamish.ca/public-hearings-and-meetings
•InpersonatMunicipal Hall; 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia,from June 4, 2026 to June 16, 2026 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday.
Questions?
Contactthe Planning Departmentat 604-815-5002.
Allsubmissions will form partofthe public record.
Councilwill not consider submissionsreceived afterthe close of the Public Hearing
This is the first of twonotices.Publish date: June 4, 2026.
How to Participate
Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affected by the proposed Phased Development Agreementamendments will have an opportunity to be heardand to presentwritten submissions for the Hearing
In Writing
Youmay deliver awritten submissionto hearing@squamish.ca,ordropofftothe CorporateOfficer at Municipal Hall before4p.m. on the date of the Hearing.For those participating viatelephone or electronically,the Districtis encouraging that awritten version of thei statement be submitted as well.
By Telephone
Youmay participate by telephone during the Hearing by calling 1-604-449-3026 and entering the Access Code 277 351 97595.Dial *3 to ‘raise your hand’indicating thatyou’d like to speak Youwill hear amessage that“your line has been unmuted”when it is your turntospeak.Prior to the meeting,please visit squamish.civicweb.net for detailed instructions
Electronically
Youmay participate electronically in the Hearing through the use of the WebEx platformbyvisiting squamish.ca/participate. Instruction forelectronic participation on WebEx can be found at thatsite. If youhaveany questions regarding participation in electronic hearings,please call the Districtat 604-892-5217.
In Person
Youmay participate in person during the Hearing in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia.
If youdonot wish to participate but would like to watch the meeting,you can do so by streaming the meetingat squamish.ca/live-meetings
TemporaryUse PermitTemporaryUse Permit
No.TU000079
NOTICE is herebygiven in accordancewith Section 494 of the Local Government Act thatthe DistrictofSquamish hasreceived application and will be considering issuance of aTemporaryUse Permit thatwouldallowthe short-term rental use in asecondarysuitefor aperiodof3 years.The District ofSquamish will receiverepresentations from persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed temporaryuse
AffectedLands
38607 High Creek Drive, Squamish, B.C., as shown on the location map
Legal Description
LOT103 BLOCK 22 DISTRICTLOT 515 GROUP 1NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICTPLAN EPP45517
Existing Zoning R-1 (Residential 1)
Proposed TemporaryUse
Under the District’sZoning BylawNo. 2200, 2011, short-term rental use is not permitted in adwelling unit that is not aprincipal residence; shortterm rental use is also not permitted in asecondarysuiteoraccessory dwelling unit (coach house). If approved,the TemporaryUse Permit would allowthe short-term rental use in the secondarysuitefor aperiod of 3years.The applicantcan apply to renew the permit foranadditional period of up to 3years following the expiryofthe original permit.
Acopyofthe proposed Temporary UsePermit No.TU000079 and related information thathas been or maybe considered by the Council maybeinspectedonline or at Municipal Hall
•Online at: squamish.ca/showcase
•Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia, from May28, 2026 to June 11,2026between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutoryholidays.
Public input will be considered by the Districtinreview of the application. Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed TemporaryUse Permit may submitwritten submissions to planning@squamish.ca or,inperson to the DirectorofCommunity Development. Written submissions canbeaddressed to the Directorof CommunityDevelopmentand will be received up until 4p.m. June 11, 2026
Allsubmissions will form partofthe publicrecord.
Datedthis 4day of June,2026,atSquamish, British Columbia.
No.TU000080
NOTICE is hereby giveninaccordancewith Section494 of the Local Government Act thatthe DistrictofSquamish has received application and willbeconsidering issuanceofa TemporaryUse Permit thatwould allowthe short-term rental use in asecondarysuite foraperiod of 3years.The District of Squamish will receiverepresentations from persons who believethattheir interestinproperty is affectedbythe proposed temporaryuse
AffectedLands
38577 High Creek Drive,Squamish, B.C., as shown on the location map
Legal Description
LOT82BLOCK 22 DISTRICTLOT 515 GROUP 1NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICTPLAN EPP45517
Existing Zoning R-1 (Residential 1)
Proposed TemporaryUse
Under the District’sZoningBylawNo. 2200, 2011, short-term rental useis not permitted in adwellingunit that is not aprincipal residence;shortterm rental use is also not permitted in asecondarysuiteoraccessory dwelling unit (coach house). If approved,the TemporaryUse Permit would allowthe short-term rental use in the secondarysuitefor aperiod of 3years.The applicantcan apply to renew the permit foranadditional period of up to 3years following the expiryofthe original permit.
Acopyofthe proposed Temporary Use Permit No.TU000080 and related information thathas been or maybe considered by the Council maybeinspectedonline or at Municipal Hall
•Online at: squamish.ca/showcase
•Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia, from May28, 2026 to June 11,2026 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutoryholidays.
Public input will be considered by the Districtinreview of the application. Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed TemporaryUse Permit maysubmitwritten submissions to planning@squamish.ca or,inpersontothe DirectorofCommunity Development.Written submissions can be addressed to the Directorof CommunityDevelopmentand will be received up until 4p.m. June 11, 2026
All submissions willformpartofthe public record.
Dated this 4day of June,2026, at Squamish, British Columbia.
TheSquamishChief is amemberof theNationalNewsmedia Council, whichisanindependentorganization establishedtodealwithacceptable journalistic practicesand ethical behaviour. If youhaveconcerns abouteditorial content, please contactEditorJenniferThuncherat jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca.Ifyou arenot satisfiedwiththe response andwishtofilea formal complaint, visitthe websiteatmediacouncil.ca or call toll-free1-844-877-1163for additional information
Reproduction of anymaterial containedinthispublicationis expresslyforbiddenwithoutthe prior writtenconsent of thepublisher.
EDITORIAL
MAGNANIMITY
Let’s quicklyput theU.S.flagbackupatthe Squamishrink; nottoreflect whotheyare, buttoshowwho we are. We aremagnanimous,noble andgenerousinspirit.
On May19, Squamish councildirectedDistrict stafftotakethe U.S. flag down at theBrennan Park rink aheadofhighschoolgraduation ceremonies.Afew parentsand thegrad committeehad askedthatitcomedownfor the event in June,notingitisstrange anduncomfortabletohaveitdisplayed prominentlyata Canadiangraduation ceremony
Some whowantitdownnoted thetensions with America, thanks to,you know,tariffs and the whole“Become the51ststate,” thingby PresidentDonaldTrump.Itisweird that theflag of theU.S.figures so prominentlyinmany previousconvocation photos,sofairplay taking it down or covering it forthe event, if that is what parents andgraduates want.
Butcouncilwenta step further, puttingnodate onitgoing back up.
Granted, aflagpolicyis supposed to be coming before electedofficials soon so they canformally make more permanentdecisions on it.But,as MayorArmandHurford said when he objected to not puttingadeadlinefor theflagtogoback up—suchasbeforehockeyseasonwhenU.S. teamsmay be in therotation—therecan be unintended consequences to such decisions.
While75% of respondentsinour online poll supportedneverputting thestars andstripes backup, at this Tuesday’scouncil meeting (which comesafter pressdeadline), thereare two lettersattachedtothe agenda that areagainst theflagremoval,citingitasdisrespectful.
Agreed.
Aflagdoesnot just standfor theindividuals presentlyinpower in whatever government.It stands forits people andthe land,past, present andfuture.
More importantly,displayingthe U.S. flag representsour attitude towardothers.
In Squamish,weought to standfor civility and asa placeofwelcome,regardlessofthe actions of current leaders, whobydesign, come andgo. Whoeveryou are, from wherever youcome, we welcome you. Don’twe? We don’tholdthe actionsofyourhomecountry’s politicians againstyou.Atleast we shouldn’t.
Many people arestronglypatriotic about Canada andhavelotsoffeelings aboutthe 47th president of theUnitedStates. That is understandable. The American flag we presentin Squamish is notabout him, or anyofthe presidents whohavestood before himand will come after. It is aboutus, andwanting to welcome people from what is,likeitor not, our closestneighbour.
your second-in-command. That sendsasignalto memberswho didn’t supportyou that they still have a senior voiceatthe tabletoinfluence thefutureofthe party.
Butbased on howbitterand personal this race was, a partnershipbetween Findlayand Elliottseems unlikely
Thereare moments in B.C. politics that have the potential to upendeverything.
Such wasthe case Saturday,whenthe results ofthe BC Conservative leadership race were announced. In amoment, thepolitical playingfield wasreset. Again.
Either frontrunner, Kerry-LynneFindlay or Caroline Elliott,was shapinguptobeapolarizingchoice for members. But thecloseness of theresults highlighteda deeply dividedBCConservativebase.
Findlaywon on thefourthand finalballotwithjust 51%ofthe vote.The partywas splitright down the middleonits future direction.
Half wanted theyoung,untested, academic new-age Conservative in Elliott, even with herhistory as aBC Liberal. Theother half preferreda veteran, hard-right, traditionalfederal Conservative cabinetministerand lawyer,evenwithahistory of controversialcomments by herselfand herhusband.
Thedifferencebetween thetwo wasjust182.02 pointsout of 9,211.
Stitchingtogetherthatdividewill take seriouswork by Findlay.
Thetraditional routeinpoliticsistoinviteyourrival to take atop position on your team,perhaps even as
In theabsence of magnanimity, humility hasbeen used by politicalleaders in thepast. Insteadofpublicly declaringultimatevictory,amoreconciliatory tone that promises to listen andlearn from thestrongviews of thethousands of partymembers whodidn’tsupport youcan suffice.
That maystill be coming.But it wasn’t quiteon displaythe morningafter thevote, when most of the caucus gathered behind FindlayinVancouver on Sunday
Theforcedperformance washardlyreassuring. Caucus management of anyparty is adelicatetask, especially in opposition when thereare no powerful cabinetroles to offerinexchangefor loyalty.
It is,however,still possible.Interim leader Trevor Halfordisthe most recent example. Hisopen-door policy as leader,and attempttohearall perspectives from MLAs,keptcaucustogetherthe last five months. It will be harder forFindlay.Especiallyas momentum gathersfor anew,centristparty to which
(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)
ELECTION: Continued from 12
MLAs uncomfortable with her leadership could defect
Already, independent Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko (who was fired from the Conservatives last September) is publicly musing about the “void” left on the political spectrum by the hard-right turn towards Findlay.
Could that void be filled by MLAs like Sturko willing to jumpstart the nascent CentreBC party from departing leader Karin Kirkpatrick? Could someone even convince Kevin Falcon to let up his control
SQUAMISH, BE WARNED ABOUT AI
AI assisted web searches should come with massive warnings.
Not just the small print at the end of an answer that “AI can be wrong,” but that due to the nature of how it is programmed and how it searches, it is prone to bias, significant error—and get this—even hallucination (by its own admission). When trying to cobble together a story about something rather than admitting—as any honest human would—not to know the answer for lack of verifiable data, it is programmed to always have an answer, even if it is based on nothing more than a digital guess.
Furthermore, its first answer is always predictably mainstream How else could it be since it gathers its information firstly from the most popular and therefore readily available sources?
I put in the name Terrill Patterson, of local Squamish fame, and it said: “primarily refers to Terrill Patterson, a beloved local politician, community watchdog, and eccentric icon of Squamish, British Columbia.”
Depending on the context, the name can also refer to a few other notable individuals.
Challenge AI and keep doing so, and soon enough it pretty much agrees with your thoughts on a subject other than maybe throwing in a caveat or two. Why? Because as you go in a certain direction, its algorithms now search for the “unconventional.”
Moreover, AI’s patronizing is downright cloying: You are praised for every question,
of the defunct BC United party, and with it the old BC Liberal brand?
The mere possibility puts pressure on Findlay to tread carefully.
She may bring back exiled MLAs from the far right, such as Peace River’s Jordan Kealy and Kelowna’s Tara Armstrong. But she could also lose MLAs from the centre, such as Kamloops’ Peter Milobar (whom Findlay has declared in a conflict of interest for having an Indigenous wife) and Chilliwack’s Á’a:líya Warbus (a leader in the Indigenous community)
That’s assuming, of course, that Findlay cares about holding together the current
version of the BC Conservative coalition. She may prefer, instead, to lean into her long-held vision for the party as a populist far-right freedom movement
So many choices for the new leader And many of them critical. Whether Findlay courts or ostracizes the 49% of the party that didn’t support her will reshape the rest of the province’s political dynamic.
Rob Shaw has spent more than 18 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for BIV. He hosts the weekly show Political Capital and has a NEW daily podcast, Political Capital Daily.
JOIN US ONLINE
QUESTION OF THE
WEEK
Do you think the Mark Carney Liberal government has been good for the Sea to Sky so far?
Have your say at squamishchief.com
Do you think the U.S. flag should go back up in the Squamish rink sometime after graduation? (Top 3 answers)
should this imitate the human touch perhaps? Are AI searches useful? Yes, of course, but use them with caution and apply human fact-checking.
Wolfgang Wittenburg, Squamish
DUAL APPROACH REQUIRED
Regarding recent Squamish and global issues, it is within our societal balance and contradictory economic jurisdictional diversifications etc. When infrastructure planning is weak, it creates a void that aggressively pushes market forces onto its eager gears to exploit resourceful measures For instance, when a city fails to build public, non-market housing, the private market takes total control of supply and demand by technicalities Because private sector developers naturally prioritize high-end, luxury developments to maximize profit margins, affordable housing vanishes entirely The bottom line is the hiking margins.
Is it failed planning or capitalism’s worst nightmare? It is both
It is a crisis where failed infrastructure planning stripped cities of their resilience, and unfettered economic pressures pushed vulnerable populations over the edge Addressing it requires a dual approach against political price tag influences of undue grievances: aggressively modernizing structural planning (zoning, transit, public wellness infrastructure) while simultaneously implementing gouging policy guardrails to semi-protect essential human needs from pure market speculation in order to circulate
PUBLIC SPACES BELONG TO EVERYONE
The recent gridlock over the Brennan Park flag reveals that our local government is completely paralyzed by political ideology. When municipal staff are too intimidated to move a foreign flag for a high school graduation without navigating a bureaucratic labyrinth, common-sense governance is officially absent
This paralysis is the Direct result of the 2023 Wa Iyím ta Sḵwxwú7mesh Protocol Agreement. Council blindly signed this deal, cementing guiding principles that are heavily slanted toward one specific group. In doing so, they have effectively handed veto power over our civic spaces to the Squamish Nation leadership, completely bypassing the democratic rights and interests of the broader tax-paying public
Municipal councils are elected to serve the entire community. Instead, our current leadership is forcing a parallel, non-transparent tier of decision-making down our throats. This isn’t about reconciliation—council is playing a dangerous game that erodes the core of local democracy.
Our public spaces belong to everyone. Council needs to stop charging ahead with radical policy shifts, drop the ideological blinders, and return to practical, accountable governance.
Jason Mokita, Garibaldi Highlands
raise an issue happening in town Please include your name, neighbourhood and daytime phone number The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for Thursday’s edition. Full names and neighbourhood will be published with the letter The publisher reserves the right to refuse and edit letters for length and clarity or to address
MOST READ STORY
RCMP respond to multiple Sea to Sky water emergencies in a single week, including two missing paddleboarders
proper economic diversification standards etc.
Hendrix Daniel Madyara, Squamish
AttentionSquamish non-profits!
Lastcallfor applications:the deadlinefor WoodfibreLNG’s CommunityPartnership Program is tomorrow!
Our CommunityPartnership Programsupports local non-profits, community groups,and organizationsmakinga difference in Squamish andthe Squamish-LillooetRegional District.We’re offeringupto$5,000infunding to help bring impactful ideastolife.
Whetheryou’re focused on recreation,wellbeing,local services, or stengthening communityconnections, this funding is heretosupport projects that meet real local needs. We’reexcited to seewhatwecan accomplish together this year!
Visitwoodfibrelng.ca/CPP to apply.
TemporaryUse PermitTemporaryUse Permit
No.TU000083
NOTICE is herebygiven in accordancewith Section 494 of the Local Government Act thatthe DistrictofSquamishhas received application and will be considering issuanceofa TemporaryUse Permit thatwould allowthe short-term rental use in asecondarysuite foraperiod of 3years.The District ofSquamish will receiverepresentations from persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed temporaryuse
AffectedLands
40179 Garibaldi Way, Squamish, B.C., as shown on thelocation map
LegalDescription
LOT1OFLOT ESOUTH 1/2 OF SOUTH EAST 1/4 OF SECTION 11 TOWNSHIP 50 PLAN 22450
Existing Zoning R-1 (Residential 1)
ProposedTemporaryUse
LOCATIONMAP
Under the District’sZoning BylawNo. 2200, 2011, short-term rental use is not permitted in adwelling unit thatisnot aprincipal residence; short-term rental use is also not permitted in a secondarysuiteoraccessory dwelling unit (coach house). If approved,the Temporary UsePermit would allowthe short-term rental use in the secondarysuitefor aperiod of 3years.The applicantcan apply to renew the permit foranadditional periodof upto3 years following theexpiryofthe originalpermit.
Acopyofthe proposedTemporary UsePermit No.TU000083 and related information thathas been or maybeconsidered by the Council maybe inspectedonline or at Municipal Hall.
•Online at: squamish.ca/showcase
•Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, BritishColumbia, from May28, 2026 to June11, 2026 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutoryholidays
Public input will be considered by theDistrictinreview of the application. Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed TemporaryUse Permit maysubmit written submissions to planning@squamish.ca or,inperson to the DirectorofCommunity Development. Written submissions canbeaddressed to the Directorof CommunityDevelopmentand will be received up until 4p.m. June 11,2026. All submissions willformpartofthe public record.
Datedthis 4day of June,2026, at Squamish, British Columbia.
No. TU000084
NOTICE is herebygiven in accordancewith Section494 of the Local Government Act thatthe DistrictofSquamish has received application and willbeconsidering issuanceofa TemporaryUse Permit thatwould allowthe short-term rental use in asecondarysuitefor aperiod of 3years.The District of Squamish willreceiverepresentations from persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed temporaryuse
AffectedLands
41205 Rockridge Place, Squamish, B.C., as shown on the location map.
Legal Description
STRATALOT 1SECTION 14 TOWNSHIP 50 NEWWESTMINSTERDISTRICTSTRATA PLAN BCS3472 TOGETHER WITH AN INTEREST IN THE COMMON PROPERTY IN PROPORTION TO THE UNIT ENTITLEMENT OF THE STRATA LOTASSHOWN ON FORM V
Existing Zoning R-1 (Residential 1)
ProposedTemporary Use
LOCATION MAP
Under the District’sZoning BylawNo. 2200, 2011, short-term rental use is not permitted in adwelling unit thatisnot aprincipal residence; short-term rental use is alsonot permitted in a secondary suiteoraccessory dwelling unit (coach house). If approved,the TemporaryUse Permit would allowthe short-term rental use in the secondarysuitefor aperiod of 3years.The applicantcan apply to renew the permit foranadditional period of up to 3years followingthe expiryofthe original permit.
Acopyofthe proposed TemporaryUse Permit No.TU000084 and related information thathas been or maybeconsidered by the Council maybe inspectedonline or at MunicipalHall.
•Online at: squamish.ca/showcase
•Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, British Columbia, from May28, 2026 to June 11,2026 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutoryholidays
Public input will be considered by the Districtinreview of the application. Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed TemporaryUse Permit maysubmit written submissions to planning@squamish.ca or,inpersontothe DirectorofCommunity Development. Written submissions can be addressed to the Directorof CommunityDevelopmentand will be received up until 4p.m. June 11, 2026. Allsubmissions willformpartofthe public record.
Datedthis 4day of June,2026, at Squamish, British Columbia.
CLIMATE: Continued from 9
“And looking ahead, we have one more final layer of horizontals that will go into this to the next lift and then to the ultimate closure of this phase of the landfill,” he said.
WOOD REUSE PILOT PROGRAM
Since the Wood Reuse Pilot Program launched, the program has already seen approximately 1,000 kilos of wood recovered or diverted, according to Fallaise
The initiative uses the existing wood bay at the landfill and then crews have created a new cedar only bay.
“Because cedar typically goes into our landfill, every kilogram of cedar that we recover or residents reuse, it directly extends the lifespan of our landfill, which is great,” Fallaise said He added the program also reduces the District’s costs because any wood salvaged reduces the materials the District has to chip.
While it is a pilot project, its success so far means it will likely transition this into a year-round program.
COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY
Picketts also noted that the District is working on the creation of a community renewable energy strategy
Picketts told council the program has gotten $64,000 in funding grants toward the strategy, which will be the first of its kind in British Columbia
He noted that the work is done by the community energy coordinator, a newer staff position that’s co-funded by BC Hydro and shared with Whistler
WIND ENERGY?
Two wind energy pilot projects are also under consideration.
Picketts noted that BC Hydro is fully funding the feasibility studies for this work.
“We have made it very clear to BC Hydro that we will not move forward with implementation until the results of the … feasibility study are with us and there is broad departmental organizational support for these, but, should we go forward, it will either be 75% or 80% of these generation projects that will be funded,” he said
“We are hopeful that we can go forward with them and the payback period with that funding should be quite short, because we will get the benefits of the reduced electricity bills.”
Later, pressed for more information about this by Coun John French, Picketts said, BC Hydro originally reached out to the District about this opportunity.
“They are quite bullish about it,” he said “They’re very excited to try to implement these technologies.”
He said site visits have occurred and a number of potential sites that may work have been identified.
An engineering consultants’ report will be released in about one month, according to Picketts.
“As exciting as this opportunity is, we’re going to have to have a really clear-headed look at this and uh make a decision whether or not it’s viable on a number of fronts economic, sustainability
and given workloads of Public Works and other internal departments facilities as well.”
BENCHMARK TRACKING
The District is tracking the energy use intensity of seven municipal buildings on Building Benchmarking BC—Municipal Hall, the library, Fire Hall 1 in Valleycliffe, Fire Hall 2 on Tantalus Road, Squamish Adventure Centre, Brennan Park, and the RCMP building
The Adventure Centre, Brennan Park and RCMP building showed higher energy use intensity, while the newer buildings did much better
“What’s noteworthy is our two new fire halls are significantly better than the medians throughout our community. So it’s also positive news that our new structures were [built] to a very high standard,” Picketts said
SAMPLE COUNCIL COMMENTS
Commercial charging station?
Coun. Eric Andersen said he has heard that there is a need for a Level 3 direct current fast charging facility designed for industrial use and that this would allow vehicles in commercial fleets to recharge more quickly. He asked if this is something the District could put in place.
He also noted that companies wishing to introduce an electric passenger ferry to Squamish would also like to see a charge barge available for their needs.
Picketts said that the District isn’t the best to spearhead such things
“We have to be extremely careful and strategic about what we embark [on] The only reason that we have community charging infrastructure right now is that we got heavily, heavily funded as 78% of the costs of those chargers were funded in our electric charging plan,” he said
“We use the analogy that we don’t run gas stations as District of Squamish So we want to be very careful about what we provide as a District. We’re often not the most efficient purveyor of a service. So we believe that our role with a more commercial charging portal or location is to do our best to help bring people together. “
District biomass energy system?
Andersen also asked about a potential biomass system that could deal with wood waste, such as what is collected for FireSmart activities, and other clearing
Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals.
“Last fall on District property, wood that was cleared in the Ross Road area went to a landfill on District property It wasn’t even chipped. So, we really need to kind of make some progress on this,” he said
Picketts said the issue is challenging.
“Biomass is part of the scope of the renewable energy strategy So we will be looking at that closely,” he said
“Unfortunately, … the economics of biomass are tricky in British Columbia. It’s a blessing and a curse that our energy costs are quite low. So for biomass to compete with other forms of energy is difficult, but nonetheless we are actively considering it along with wind and solar,” he added.
“Our climate action plan [has] identified specific opportunities to collaborate with
Squamish Nation. So if Squamish Nation, for example, took on a leadership role of a biomass facility, we would… partner to the extent that we could, and that might be a great opportunity given Squamish Nation’s significant role in forestry in the region.”
Cost savings?
Coun Andrew Hamilton asked if the District had considered debt servicing costs when listing the savings from initiatives in the CSEMP, which focuses on internal organizational efforts.
“So, when we see some facility having a $2,000 a year savings, is that after considering the debt servicing required to implement the capital changes required to make that savings?”
The CSEMP states its initiatives, once implemented, could save the District up to $582,000 per year
Picketts said that those costs were not factored in.
“Definitely something we need to consider with these improvements, those 45 actions in the CSEMP are not free and they’re often not cheap… We have to potentially make some tough decisions and come back to you with.”
Hamilton responded that it is “critically important” that debt servicing on capital costs
be brought into the conversation.
“The reason I’m asking about these real costs is because I want this to happen and I don’t believe it’ll happen unless we take that very realistic and sobering view of the cost of these things,” he said later in the discussion.
Mashiter Creek Hydropower Take 2?
French noted that the Mashiter Creek Hydropower was referenced in the potential District initiatives. He noted that back in 2016, Squamish council took preliminary steps toward creating a run-of-river power project on Mashiter Creek, but later, in 2017, a consultant said it was not a viable option French asked what had changed.
“As a municipality we have more and more capacity at hand and Public Works has expressed an interest in operating this system,” Picketts said “The appetite within Public Works to run this—they’re not saying ‘Let’s go,’ but—they’re actively considering it So, I would say economics and internal capacity are two things that have changed.”
There is also the possibility of a community energy generation grant from BC Hydro, which
CLIMATE: Continued on 19
2026 PropertyTax and Utilities –PaymentDue July 2, 2026
Alate penaltyof5% will be applied afterJuly 2, 2026. Asecond 5% penaltywill beapplied afterJuly 31, 2026.
Property owners will be sentseparate property tax and utilitynotices.
If youhavenot received your notices by June 9, please contactFinancial Services forassistance. New owners should ensuretaxes and utilities are paid on their property.Ifthereisany doubt,please call Financial Services at 604-815-5035.
Please note, property owners are responsible forpaymentofthe 2026 propertytaxes and utilities regardless of whether or not notices arereceived.
Municipal Hall,37955 Second Avenue
MondaytoFriday: 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.
WaysToPay
Online Banking
Property Taxesand Utilities are separatepayees.
Utilities
Payee: DistrictofSquamish Utilities Account#: 7digit number
Property Taxes
Payee: DistrictofSquamish Property Tax Account#: 13 digit number/roll number
Some financialinstitutions hold payments before forwarding to us or areindifferenttime zones. Avoid the risk of apenaltybypaying twotothree business days beforethe due date.
Squamish SustainabilityCorporation
Annual General Meeting
Noticeisherebygiven thatthe Squamish SustainabilityCorporation annual general meeting, forthe receipt of the 2025 financial statements and annual report, will be held during the June 16, Special Business Meeting in Council Chambers, Municipal Hall,locatedat 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C.
Copies of the financial statements are available forinspection on the District’s website squamish.ca/annualreport Themeetings can be livestreamed at squamish.ca/live-meetings
DevelopmentReview
• 40252 Aristotle Drive –TemporaryUse Permit
• 1940 Centennial Way –TemporaryUse Permit squamish.ca/review
2027PermissiveTax Exemption Applications
PermissiveTax Exemptions areamethod that the DistrictofSquamish, supportedbyCouncil, maysupportvoluntarynon-profitorganizations by exempting landorimprovements or both, from taxation under Section 224 of the CommunityCharter.
TheDistrictofSquamish is nowaccepting applications forPermissiveTax Exemptions.Section 224 of the CommunityCharterand the requirements of the DistrictofSquamish PermissiveTax Exemption policyapply.Ifyour organization can demonstrate eligibilityyou arewelcome to apply foranexemption. Theapplication and policyare available online.The deadline to apply is July 31, 2026, forexemptions beginning forthe 2027 taxation year
Formoreinformation, please contactus at 604-892-5217. squamish.ca/grants
ByMail
Chequeonly.Donot mail cash. Postmarks will not be accepted as date of payment.
AfterHours Drop Box
Cheque only.Donot leave cash in the drop box. Theyellowafter hours drop boxis locatedatMunicipal Hall on the wall to the rightofthe doors.Please deposit cheques only Do not leave cash in the drop box.
In Person
Cheque,cash or debit (Payments by credit cards arenot accepted).
Please be suretocheck your daily spendinglimit beforeyou arrive.You may need to request atemporaryincrease from your bank.Nopost-dated cheques.
Business Opportunities
Requests forProposals
•Environmental DevelopmentReview Consultant
•Brennan Park Cricket PitchConstruction
•Consulting to AdvanceSocial Procurement squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district
InfrastructureUpgrades
•WastewaterSystemUpgrades continue in Dentville.
•Annual Watermain Upgrades continue in Brackendale.
•Construction on Squamish RiverDike at Dryden Pump Station (located160m southofthe Watershed Grill) will be taking placeJune 1–14. This is the first stage of phased construction that will continue through November squamish.ca/building-our-future
NEW SḴWXWÚ7MESH LANGUAGE ‘NEST’ OPENS IN SQUAMISH
VALLEY
Squamish Nation is taking big steps to revitalize their language on their home territory, paving the way for a ‘new normal’
INA PACE
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Anew “Language Nest,” a house in which pre-school students are taught a language immersion program, has opened in the Squamish Valley for the Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) community.
Sp’áḵw’usullh (which literally translates to “baby bald eagle”) will offer programs for pre-school kids (aged years 0 to 3), or Ménmen, and their families, to enable further revitalization of the “critically endangered” Squamish language (Sníchim).
The program’s “grand opening” took place on May 21 at 820 Lewis Drive in Cheakamus, which is the house in which the program will take place. The event opened with a singing and drumming ceremony featuring Nation members Is’gh’li-ya Anthony Joseph and Aaron Williams, and was followed by a community lunch.
Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Valley Operations) program director Austin Chandler described the event as a “blessing to honour and welcome the program, starting off the work in a good way.”
“A lot of work has taken place to make this a reality for the Squamish Valley,” Chandler said
Ta tsíptspi7lhkn (The Language Nest), in North Vancouver, also hosts the langauge immersion program; it was established in 2023 as the first permanent Sníchim space. The program in North Vancouver has been made available for all of Squamish Nation from September to June each year, though like with Sp’áḵw’usullh,
learning is aimed primarily at pre-school kids
Chandler clarified that Nation members taking certificate, diploma, and master’s programs in Sníchim, will be leading the immersion program at Sp’áḵw’usullh
“They’ll be doing everyday things, but only speaking Sníchim,” Chandler said, “so they’ll be cooking, cleaning, playing, singing songs, and sharing stories.”
Sp’áḵw’usullh is established as a family home on reserve, which the kids and their families will attend four days a week in morning and afternoon sessions, depending on their baby’s or
child’s sleep schedule, according to Chandler Sp’áḵw’usullh has everyday household utilities, and a number of visual prompts and bi-lingual signs on the walls throughout
According Squamish Nation’s language team lead Cara Jefferson, Sp’áḵw’usullh has funds secured for the next three years through the First People’s Cultural Council (FPCC)
Chandler explained that the family homeowner has moved away and has approved a three year term; they are also open to the opportunity to lengthen the program’s lease, once those three years are up.
“This has been a successful program on the North Shore for a few years now, so it’s huge in bringing our language back into our communities and being more recognizable,” Chandler said.
“Starting with our little ones, it’s easier for them to retain [language] and build capacity. I hear people in the community now, when we’re at canoe practice or just at a gathering, speaking Sníchim to each other.”
According to head language teacher Kwewawtennat Virgina, who attended a language immersion program herself at Simon Fraser University nine years ago, Sp’áḵw’usullh has three lead teachers, and around seven
families due to attend so far.
She explained that families will be taught basics and “survival” phrases, to guide them gradually into the immersion. The main goal of the program, she said, is to teach kids what they would learn at home, just in only Sníchim.
“[It] just warms my heart that they have this opportunity, because I didn’t in my generation, I learned English as a first generation to go to public school And then my generation before that went to residential school,” she said
“It’s a breath of fresh air to think that this language is a new normal for these future generations. They’ll be able to speak with the land once again, because that is where the language comes from; spiritually, everything’s connected.”
According to Squamish Valley Operations education manager Charlene Williams, Sp’áḵw’usullh will run the immersion program Monday to Thursday each week. An official start date will be announced this month.
Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief’s Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter
This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada
might make the move more feasible, staff said French said he found that very exciting
“The thought of that piece of infrastructure that really is just sitting in the background not necessarily serving us in any direct way purely as a backup water system, this is exciting.”
Run-of-river projects generate electricity by channelling stream flows through turbines.
The District currently has a backup water supply intake on Mashiter Creek, north of the Garibaldi Highlands.
Coun Chris Pettingill spoke to the urgency of climate change impacts versus costs.
We are sort of far exceeding the worst-casescenarios. And so in terms of the things we’re doing, it’s not things we need 20 years from now. It’s stuff we needed 40 years ago and we’re way behind,” he said. “I think we’ve lost some of the urgency in our minds, but it is still there,” he added.
“If we’re thinking about a 30-year time frame, which we really are here, we shouldn’t be focusing too much on present-day energy bills
because the energy piece is going to go way down.”
Pettingill said that unlike natural gas, electricity costs will go down and having projects in-house gives the District more resilience
“Unlike gas and some of these other things, we can actually generate this energy ourselves and increasingly more so and store it ourselves. And so, you know, when we’re thinking about cost, resilience and bringing down costs in the medium and long term, something that is electricity-based makes a whole lot of sense.”
Coun. Lauren Greenlaw said she would like to see some of the renewable energy pieces becoming more centric in conversations with developers.
“For instance, to create not only energy-efficient structures but also to be including some of these renewable energy pieces and bringing that into our asks from developers more consistently and maybe even incorporating this into our [Development Cost Charges] bylaw for the future because this is the infrastructure that we need to make these buildings viable.”
PHOTO BY INA PACE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
L-R: Coun Is’gh’li-ya Anthony Joseph and language specialist Aaron Williams at the opening ceremony on May 21
CLIMATE: Continued from 17
LOCAL MAN PADDLES 1,100 KM TO ALASKA FOR VETERANS
Allan Bercq has never sea kayaked long distances before
LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca
Allan Bercq is a man who sees an adventure and doesn’t hesitate
Hailing from France, he joined the army at 21 and, after five years, moved into a special forces unit called the Mountain Commando Group. The army taught him skills that most people don’t have access to in everyday life, while appealing to his interest in pushing beyond the limits of his abilities.
“I really want to experience as much of life as possible,” he said.
When he left the army, he moved to a little place called Squamish, B.C., where he could continue exploring the natural world. He is a paraglide pilot, mountaineer, runner, cyclist, swimmer, and all-around adventurer But his next adventure is aboard the sea, where he will paddle solo from Squamish to Ketchikan, Alaska, in a sea kayak.
And while most people would likely start a 1,100-kilometre adventure with a wealth of experience in their mode of travel, Bercq decided to take on the journey two days after getting into a sea kayak for the first time
“I still [have] never [distance] sea kayaked in my life That’s what I like to feel It’s like I’m scared about it, I don’t know about it I need to learn. I need to learn fast and to understand everything, and it’s like a new environment. I’m outside of my comfort zone,” he said
FOR VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH
And while he’s going on the expedition, it isn’t just a sense of adventure he’s seeking. The Frenchman is raising money for mental health challenges faced by veterans and donating it to Soutien Commando.
Soutien Commando is a French organization that supports French service members and their families. Bercq said sometimes the organization gives aid by flying in care packages to remote locations, but much of the work they do focuses on assisting service members when injured or when facing hardship.
“Even at this time, [there’s] a war somewhere. But we don’t really know what’s happened, and we don’t really know what the people see and live. When they come back, how do people live with this kind of trauma?” he said He describes those who serve as strong, smart, often proud people, who may not want to ask for help with the scars from war.
“I really want to show that these kinds of people, they are heroes.”
A WELL-PREPARED ADVENTURER
Aside from being a highly specialized former soldier, Bercq’s list of accomplishments in the outdoors is remarkable
He’s says dashed through the trails of the Tour du Mont Blanc alone, a 170 km distance that covers 10,000 meters of cumulative elevation. The journey took him through France, Italy and Switzerland. Usually, the trip takes between six to 10 days He says he did it in two. The athlete told The Squamish Chief he solo ascended Mont Blanc in just under 18 hours. Bercq swam across Lake Annecy in the French alps, a 14 km marathon of strokes in 14 C water over seven hours.
Then comes his cycling feats. He explained he cycled across Spain in six days by himself, going 1,265 km from north to south. The Transcontinental Race in Europe? He says he’s done that one, too. The journey spanned 4,400 km and went on for almost two weeks.
Last summer, he sailed from Canada to Mexico in two months
But while his deeds may seem out of reach, his ethos is that the outdoors and surmounting challenges are for everyone
“When you believe in your dreams and commit to them, anything is possible,” he said “You don’t need to go to Alaska with kayaking,
you don’t need to do extreme things Hiking a summit, or camping and coming back, the feeling when you are in the summit and you completed something it’s amazing.”
And after these trips is where the mundanity of everyday life can be appreciated. A warm home, a roof over your head, and a hot shower fills him with gratitude after the experience
TRIP TIMELINE
Over July and August, he’s taking time away from his job in Whistler for the journey. He expects it will take anywhere between one and two months, depending on weather conditions, ocean currents and the physical demands of travelling alone.
He will depart from Squamish and paddle to Port Hardy on North Vancouver Island, which he expects to take two weeks. He’s bringing dehydrated meals and snacks for three weeks. From there, he’s paddling to Bella Bella, an estimated timeline of one week On this leg, two friends will join him and bring food By the time he reaches Bella Bella, he will gather a package of sustenance from the local post office He will then paddle alone to Prince Rupert, where he will again pick up a survival package he’s mailed.
We look forwardtomanymore yearsofcreatinghealthy,beautiful smiles together.
atwelldental.com• (604) 567-1155
‘Take a New 5’: Between Shifts Theatre production takes the stage
Between Shifts Theatre’s production of Take a New 5 is on June 25 to 28 at the Eagle Eye Theatre. It features one classic and four locally written short plays: Zoo Story by Edward Albee, Agnes, by Stephen Vogler, Alex Martin and On Piste by Katherine Fawcett and Pinky Swear by John Mcgie
Tickets at betweenshiftstheatre.com
Use your ipad or computer to purchase or buy at the door.
Sea to Sky Hospice Society forum
Please join the Sea to Sky Hospice Society and the Squamish Multifaith Association for From the End of the Tunnel: an afternoon forum on
YOUR TOWN, YOUR NEWS: COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS
Ritual and Religion in Death, Dying, Burial and Grief.
At the end of our lives, many of us look for the “big connections”, asking ourselves what matters the most, and how we want to leave things when we die. Spiritual care can become very important for people of all faiths. How does one draw on the knowledge and practices of faith and culture groups to guide us through death, dying, and grief?
Come and hear from leaders and representatives from an array of faith and culture groups making their home here in the traditional lands of the Squamish Nation
Bring your curiosity and your appetite for moderated inter-cultural discussion, and snacks.
Sunday, June 7, 2026
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Multipurpose Room
Westwinds Senior Living
38275 Third Ave.
Drop-ins Welcome, Registration Encouraged at eventbrite.ca. Search for the event title.
Join the Sea to Sky New Horizons Band
Are you looking for a fun and rewarding way to make music, meet new people and become part of your community? The Sea to Sky New Horizons Band may be just for you. We are a new concert band right here in
Squamish Our first rehearsal was in September, 2025 with 15 adult musicians and we’ve grown to 27 musicians! Whether you’ve played an instrument years ago, are returning after a break or are currently performing, you are welcome to join No auditions are required. We believe that music brings people together and our band is built on friendship, learning and a shared love of making music together. Brass, woodwind and percussion instruments make up the band
We’ve had three performances so far at the local senior residences where we enjoyed sharing our love of music with the community If you enjoy music and would love to connect with fellow musicians please check us out. Email: Debrabreuer28@gmail.com
This marks our first Community Submission page. The Squamish Chief welcomes community submissions for local sports achievements and arts events. Submissions must be 300 words or less. Please note that all submissions are final and will be published on a first-come, first-served basis, as space allows. Submit at squamishchief.com by going to the “Connect” tab and clicking Community Submissions.
ALASKA: Continued from 20
Then comes Alaska
On remote coastlines, when he camps, he needs to find access to freshwater from rivers and streams and use water purifying tablets. He’s unsure if he will be able to cook meals over a fire because of B.C.’s dry conditions that lead to fire bans Using a Jetboil, he will rehydrate dinner, make coffee and snack on nuts over lunch. Once he reaches Ketchikan, he will take a week to recover in a hotel before taking a ferry back to Bellingham, Washington Bercq will travel back to Squamish by water once again,
Public Comments
Camping andMotorized UseRestriction
Recreation Sites and Trails BC is seeking public comments on the prohibition of camping and motorized use in the Brandywine Meadows area from June 1st to November 1st annually.
This restriction will supportthe intent ofthe WildlifeHabitatArea (WHA)2-281, whichishigh value habitatused by grizzly bearsto raise cubs everyyear
Camping and motorized use disturbthese bears, threaten cub survivaland create asignificant risk forhuman-bear conflicts
The development of recreational infrastructure (food caches, toilets,campsites )whichwould be required forbear safecamping is prohibited within WHA 2-281
Formore informationorto provide comments, email the MinistryofEnvironment and Parks, Recreation Sites and Trails Branchat: RecInfo@gov.bc.ca by June 21st,2026
getting in the kayak and paddling for two days
The trip so far is entirely self-funded, but he welcomes any company that wants to sponsor his journey. Anyone looking to contact him about his upcoming trip can send him an email allan.bercq@gmail.com.
“This world is a train, right? It goes really fast, and sometimes you cannot get off the train. But you know the train needs to stop, and if you don’t stop for life, sometimes just a little bit, you never go off [the tracks]. You don’t see what’s happening outside. So, I really want to inspire people to sometimes just take a break, go outside, and enjoy.”
Baha’i Faith
SQUAMISH BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY
Baha’i Faith
ReconciliationisJustice
Food Security =Human Security
No matter wherehumans have determined to live, the need to feed themselves is priority number one. The questionover time is how to continue to sustain adequate food production as populationsgrow.
The essentialfactor in ensuringfood security globally is as ’Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: “The supreme need of humanity is cooperation and reciprocity.The stronger the ties of fellowship and solidarityamongst men, the greater will be the power of constructiveness and accomplishment in all the planes of human activity.”
Whatare theingredients of food security? Water,biodiversity, environmental health, justiceand climate.‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: “For everypart of the universe is connected with everyother part by ties that arevery powerfuland admit of no imbalance, nor anyslackening whatever.”
To acknowledge thisconnection of balance between ingredients requires humanity to recognize the truth of its own oneness and connection.This demands responsibility towardsone to another,inother words, justice. The correct balance in all aspects of humanity’sconnectedness to water,biodiversity,environmental health,justice and climate is the only thing that canensurefood security for all.
Locally this means supporting local food production and environmentally sustainable practices, reconnecting people with their food and community.Agriculturalfocused neighborhoods(agri-hoods) save water,protect biodiversityand allow people to eat locally produced food. Got extra? –Sharethe bounty- Support your local food bank. www.squamishbahais.com
PRETTY IMPORTANT STUFF’: HERE’S WHAT SQUAMISH ARTS CONTRIBUTED TO TOWN IN 2025
In a presentation to council this week, Squamish Arts outlined attendance figures, fundraising totals and how those dollars were used across events and projects
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
The agreements the District has with Squamish Arts offer a good return on investment
That was the message of Clea Young, executive director of the organization, when she presented to council at its committee of the whole on May 26
All told, Squamish Arts received $167,000 from the municipality in 2025.
Squamish Arts has three agreements with the District: a partnership agreement, for which it received $63,000; a public art agreement, for which it receives $40,000; and a community enhancement grant agreement, for which it receives—and then distributes—$64,000.
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The partnership agreement encompasses the majority of the organization’s annual programming “as deliverables, our role acting as a resource and sounding board for the arts community and our role assisting with the
implementation of District of Squamish policies regarding arts and cultural services, such as the public art policy,” Young said.
As part of the agreement, Squamish Arts continued to provide its sound equipment and event equipment, such as tents and tables, to community groups in 2025, for free or at low cost. Groups and events that benefited from this included the Brackendale Art Gallery, Pride
Squamish, the Coldest Night of the Year event, and the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement (BIA) Association’s Holiday Parade, among several others.
Squamish Arts’ youth programming, which is contained in the agreement, included Amped in the Park, which was in its eighth year in 2025 It presented 40 youth performers over its eight-week run on Thursdays throughout the
summer in 2025, seeing an average of about 200 people in the audience each night.
Squamish Arts also runs a scholarship program for youth graduating from Howe Sound Secondary who are pursuing a post-secondary arts education.
The summer Squamish Arts Festival is another event the organization puts on that fulfills part of its agreement with the municipality In 2025, Squamish Arts Festival and the BIA, or Downtown Squamish, joined forces and produced events over the same weekend, calling it The Big Weekend.
The event that will happen again this year, July 24-26, according to Young.
“Not only does partnering this way enable us to amplify each other’s events through shared marketing and enliven downtown with the arts over three days, but it also has the added benefit of reducing costs associated with road closures,” she said.
The Squamish Arts festival team raised $268,000 to produce the festival, a combination of grant funding, sponsorship, and event
ARTS: Continued on 23
SIKH SOCIETY BRINGS BACK PARADE AND LANGAR WITH A MESSAGE OF EQUALITY
After a year off due to the Dryden Creek Wildfire, Squamish’s annual Sikh Parade and festival will return on June 20, with organizers inviting residents from across town to join a day centred on community, equality and remembrance
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
After a year off due to the Dryden Creek wildfire, the beloved community event, the annual Sikh Parade and festival, returns June 20.
The Squamish Sikh Society event kicks off with the 19th staging of the parade at 10 a.m., travelling from the Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) at 37947 Fifth Ave., and moves through town to Junction Park and O’Siyam Pavilion, where festivities will continue until about 2 p.m.
“We would like to invite every single person from Squamish to please join us here in our Sikh parade. And we will welcome everyone,” said Parmjit S. Sidhu, vice-president of the Squamish Sikh Society.
The festivities honour the martyrdom of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru to be martyred
He lived from 1563 to 1606, and is known for his unyielding belief in equality.
He compiled all of the past Gurus’ writings into one book, the first edition of the Guru Granth Sahib.
This is what made him a martyr
ARTS: Continued from 22
revenue, and received another $15,000 of in-kind contributions from the community, Young shared.
The festival showcased 147 artists, or performers, enjoyed by about 8,000 attendees.
The ArtWalk is another annual program that fits within the partnership agreement.
In 2025, ArtWalk shifted from July to October.
“In 2025, ArtWalk comprised four elements: a weekend of open artist studios around Squamish with a central art hub at the Squamish Adventure Centre where artists who don’t have their own studios could set up and share their work with the public,” Young said. There were 12 free arts workshops, two free artist talks, and an anonymous art show Young noted that, although it is not directly part of the agreement, Squamish Arts also runs an Art School.
“A program that increases access to local arts and culture experiences and helps the organization achieve the resources needed to carry out the deliverables of our partnership agreement,” Young said
The school saw 280 participants attend 37 classes in 2025
Squamish Arts, through the work of two volunteers, also operates two community galleries—the Artisan Gallery and the Squamish Medical Clinic gallery.
He included the writings of both Hindu and Muslim saints
“In 1606, the Muslim Emperor Jahangir ordered that he be tortured and sentenced to death after he refused to remove all Islamic and Hindu references from the Holy book,” reads a
“Exhibitions rotate quarterly, and we have recently been holding small receptions for the artists to celebrate their work with friends and the community,” Young said.
Further, Young said Squamish Arts leveraged the District’s contribution of $63,000 to raise an additional $388,000 through grants, sponsorships, and revenue money that then went back into the local economy by way of arts-related programming and events
“A return on investment of 515%,” she said PUBLIC ART AGREEMENT
In terms of the public art agreement, last year saw the installation of metal artist Joe Sauvé’s Scavenger Bear on the Brennan Park grounds.
“This project began as part of the public art grants program in 2022 and finally found its home last year,” Young said
Public art funding also helped pay for two youth mural camps in 2025
“One led by professional artist Jessica Gilbert that focused on teaching youth spray art skills and resulted in the mural on Buckley Avenue … as you come off the Discovery Trail there that the kids named Hands of Nature and the other a floor mural led by Alex J Fowkes on the accessible walkway to the downtown skate park.”
This summer, Squamish Arts will again be offering a spray art skills camp and another to create a mural for Brennan Park, according to Young.
BBC description.
“He was made to sit on a burning hot sheet while boiling hot sand was poured over his (burned) body. After enduring five days of unrelenting torture Guru Arjan Dev was taken for a bath in the river. As thousands watched he
She said Squamish Arts also leveraged funding and received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to commission two works of pop-up public art that debuted at Squamish Arts Festival. One, Fowkes’ The Art Archway, will be used yearly at the Squamish Arts Festival. The other was Melanie Lazelle’s inflatable art installation, Sunshine
“With our mission in mind and the goal of supporting local artists, these two artists now have works they can rent out to groups interested in displaying them at events,” Young said
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT GRANT AGREEMENT
In terms of the enhancement grants agreement, which Young called arts and culture grants, in 2025, over $55,500 was distributed in 15 grants to groups and some individual artists for community projects and events
“Funding supported everything from the inaugural Squamish Pride Parade to an Indigenous ribbon skirt and shirt making project aimed at a smaller section of the community,” Young said
Those who received funding in 2025 raised an additional $92,000 in cash and $53,000 of in-kind support.
“The return on the District’s investment in the arts and culture grants program is calculated at 260%, with just over 16,500
entered the river never to be seen again.”
He is revered for his endurance, sacrifice and holiness.
“That was basically the teaching for us, how he did that and how he stood against discrimination,” Sidhu said
After the parade, there are speakers and langar—free food for all—prepared, like the whole event, by volunteers.
“Food is not just only for food This is about connecting to the community,” Sidhu said
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Malhi Malkeet, who goes by Tony, takes care of logistics for the event. He notes that in 2024, there were thousands of people from far and wide who came to Squamish for the parade.
“People coming from out of town, if they have kids or if they have elders, it’s going to be a lot of people here, we are expecting,” he said, advising that kids have their parents’ phone numbers tucked in their pockets, just in case they get separated in the crowds
“So we can find their parents and then get them safely (reunited).”
He also reminds attendees to recycle and dispose of their trash so as not to pollute.
“The human race is one and we are all together and that is it,” Sidhu said
audience members taking in these experiences and over 1,000 participating in the production of them,” Young told council.
SAMPLE COUNCIL COMMENTS
In response to a question from Coun. Jenna Stoner on challenges faced, Young said finding more sponsors for the Sp’akw’us Feather Shakedown concert given the current economy is a challenge.
“So, it’s seeking out new opportunities for funding and trying to make connections with new sponsors, that sort of thing. That’s just ongoing work that we need to do,” Young said.
And then there are challenges around arts facilities, she said
Mayor Armand Hurford spoke to the high rates of return Squamish Arts sees
“By working together we can see massive benefits for the community,” he said
Coun Lauren Greenlaw added to the praise piled on by members of council.
“I reflect a lot on the importance of art in a healthy society and it’s just such an important aspect of mental health and expression and, of course, also building and cultivating connection right in our community,” she said
“Art is a really important place to offer social commentary as well It just brings vitality, beauty and connection to our community and that’s pretty much what makes life worth living. So, pretty important stuff.”
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
L-R: Parmjit S. Sidhu, Nimerjeet Singh Thandi, Gurdeep Singh (granthi/head priest), and Malhi Malkeet (Tony).
unexpectedly passed away on May 15, 2026,atthe age of56.
Todd will be deeply missed by his lovingwife Caroline; daughter Hannah; son Jeremy (Anna); mother-in-law Berenice Speed; brother-in-lawChris (Rachel); parentsAland DorothyPope; sisterShannon Confortin (Mark);nephew and niece Jack (Alisha) and Ella;and his younger brother Jason Pope.
Knownfor hishumour, kindness, and love of life, Todd brought laughter and warmth wherever he went.His friendships meant the world to him and he was fortunatetohave formed countlessmeaningful and lasting connectionsthroughout his life. Todd had agiftfor makingpeople feel welcome,valuedand appreciated, and his loyalcircle of friends is atrue reflectionofthe person he was.
Toddmoved to Squamish in 1993and quickly became an integralpart ofthe community He volunteered histimewith Test of Metal, Squamish TrailSociety,Tourism Squamish, local triathlons,Sea to SkyNordics, RCMP COPS and Auxiliary, Squamish BMX and BMX Canada,just to name afew
ACommunity Celebration of Life willbeheld on Friday June5,2026from 3-4 PMinthe MainLibraryBuilding of theCapilano UniversitySquamish Campus. Todd’slaughter,light, and generous spirit will never be forgotten.
Please sendresume to: Email: info@whistlerexcavations.com
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17.Expertperson
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22.Luxury hotel
24.Painter or sculptor,e.g.
27.Muscle twitch
28. Cow’shouse
29.Fiddler
33.Annexes
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38.Evil look
40.Lemon refresher
41.Sundae topping
43. Do needlework
44.Sir Francis
47.Slippery swimmers
49. Chafe
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53. Six per inning
56. Beer’scousin
57.Withdraw
58. TheStooges, e.g.
59.Unite in matrimony
60.Tennis-courtdividers
61.“You_ Me”
DOWN
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19.Citytransportation
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23. Tablet of medicine
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Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling
LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:
ARIES March 21-April 19
Your health needsalittle more attention. The rightprofessional supportortreatmentwill quickly restoreyourenergy.Steady improvementwill follow, helping you move forward with greater ease and confidence on your personal and professional path.
TAURUS April 20-May20
Your professional relationships will grow into genuine friendships and enrichyour social life.Bybalancingwork, familyand leisure, you’ll benefit from greaterharmony, stability and satisfaction in everyaspect of yourlife.
GEMINI May21-June 20
Ademandingproject will requireall yourpatience and dedication.Evenifyou aren’t financiallycompensated right away,results will soon follow. Thiscommitmentcould mark a majorturningpointinboth your career and personal life.
CANCER June 21-July 22
Atrainingcoursemay lead to certification in the coming months.This achievementwill open new opportunities in your field while strengtheningyour confidence,skillsand abilityto push yourself.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Your romantic relationship needsattention and emotional presence.Prioritizequalitytime with yourpartner,settingaside distractions and stressors. For now, avoid sensitivetopics so you canrestore balance and harmonyinyourrelationship.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept.22
If you’resingle,abold proposal could come from an intriguing stranger.Abusinesstripwill benefityourcareer. Before making anydecisions,carefully weighthe pros and cons to protectboth your emotions and professional gains
LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22
Aheavy workload will demand discipline and stamina, butyour efforts will soon be rewarded. Apromotion is on the horizon, thankstoyourdedication. It will bringyou greatpride and professional recognition.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Your natural charismaand persuasivepower will earn the loyaltyand supportofthose around you.Atworkorinyour love life,yourideas will stand out and takethe lead. Those around you will recognizeand value yourleadership skills.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Your childrenwill need you around. Youmay alsodiscover afinancingopportunitythat allows you to purchase a new home or make major renovations.This will improve yourfamilylife and personal well-being.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan.19
Take the time to clarify financial matters to prevent misunderstandings.Inromance, focusonthe futureand openly shareyourdreams.Listeningto each other will strengthen your emotional foundation.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
You’reinagood position to stabilizeyourfinances.Consider applyingfor aloantominimize yourdebt. Askfor araise; your boss will be supportive, helping you move toward financial security.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
You’ll face anew challenge, awakeninga senseofrenewal. This excitingopportunitywill motivateyou to grow and evolve. Atrainingcourseorspiritual exploration will enrichyourpath, bringingdeeptransformation and fresh energy to yourdaily life.
HOWTOPLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the numbers1through 9only once. Each 3x3box is outlined with adarker line. Youalready have afew numbersto getyou started. Remember: youmust not repeat the numbers1through 9in the same line, column or 3x3box
Holy Communion and Morning Worship Sundays at 10:00 AM
