March 12, 2026

THURSDAY,MARCH 12,2026

See what SORCAisproposing Seewhat

100-UNIT AFFORDABLE RENTAL PROJECT LEFT IN LIMBO AFTER PROVINCE PAUSES KEY HOUSING FUND

The two-building concept envisioned for a District-owned site at 39900 Government Rd. is splitting into two timelines: BC Housing-backed supportive homes are advancing

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

The future of the Squamish Housing 100 affordable rentals announced for 39900 Government Rd., in the Northyards neighbourhood, is in limbo.

As part of its 2026 budget, announced Feb. 17, the provincial government cancelled funding allocated to the Community Housing Fund (CHF) that was announced in Budget 2025 and future calls are on hold, with no restart date.

This is the funding Squamish Housing was waiting on for the rental building that would have offered deeply subsidized rental rates fora percentage of its tenants. While the organization is looking for other funding

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PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS

Continued from1

sources, should alternative funding be found, the rents will more than likely be higher than they would have been for themost incomestrapped tenants.

BUT WAIT,WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY HOUSING FUND?

Started in 2017, the provincial government’s Community Housing Fund, administered by BC Housing, was available to non-profit housing organizations, housing co-operatives, municipalities, First Nations and Indigenous-led housing societies. Under the program, 70% of residents who move into the projects pay rent geared to income, where rent is generally based on 30% ofhousehold income.

This included 20% of units for residents with very low incomes, such as those receiving income or disability assistance; 30% of units were available at or below market rents for households with moderate incomes.

In the spring of 2025, the province put out its fourth call to non-profit and municipal housing providers to apply for more than $775 million in total funding that would deliver more than 4,600 rental homes through the 2025 intake of the Community Housing Fund.

Housing Squamish, the local non-profit, applied in July and was told it would know in about six weeks the status of its application. The parameters of the funding require that projects are “shovel ready” at the time of application.

For the project, the District of Squamish offered its land.

The overall plan included two projects on the site.

The first building will feature approximately 60 to 65 supportive homes. This project is being advanced by BC Housing and will be operated by the Squamish Helping Hands Society. The second project is the 100 units of rental housing, for which Housing Squamish’s applied to the government for $17.8 million.

“We put that forward to the community as a

‘ADJUSTMENT IN PACING’

A Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs spokesperson said it is not cancelling the Community Housing Fund.

“Thousands of homes continue to be built under the program across the province Since the launch of the CHF in 2018, the province has made strong progress,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, approximately 5,900 homes have been completed under this program, with more than 4,600 homes actively in construction andmore than 3,000 in earlier stages of the development process across the province.

“We remain focused on delivering the thousands of homes that are currently underway from previous CHF intakes,” the spokesperson added.

“We understand that applicants are frustrated by the cancellation of the 2025 CHF intake and that applicants waited patiently to understand next steps. We thank all groups that submitted an application, and are grateful for the vital work they continue to do for communities across B.C.”

partnership where we would be a partner to the supportive housing project withthe two projects advancing through separate funding programs, but together in parallel to provide two separate buildings on that one site,” said Sarah Ellis, executive director of Housing Squamish.

While the funds weren’t guaranteed, the community partners all felt it was a “really strong” application, she added.

“Because of the nature of sharinga lot of the costs of construction for the site withthe supportive housing project and because of the unique nature of the site where we could potentially have flow over time from folks who are graduating out of the Supportive Housing project,” she said.

The project got all the way to the point of pursuing a development permit withthe District, so it is shovel ready, in other words.

“We submitted our development permit application. We’re in the final stages with the District of Squamish towards getting that

development permit The site is being cleared for the Supportive Housing project and that’s moving forward.”

Getting to this point cost $600,000.

“It’sa funding program that’s extremely competitive, that wants projects to be shovel-ready And so we did access pre-development funds from BC Housing and then also from other funding programs to get to the point where we had a development permit and we’re ready to go,” Ellis said.

She said she started to get worried after the original six weeks went by and they hadn’t heard about the funding.

“Six weeks went by,a month went, two months went by, three months, four months, suddenly it’s the holidays,” she said.

“We gota holding pattern message from BC Housing and then we started really being worried. We suspected that there might be bad news coming. Never suspected that they would just cancel the whole funding program,” she said.

Asked if there was any recourse what had been lost for organizations like Housing Squamish that had spent so much time, money and resources on a project to meet the program’s criterion, the province said no.

“Similar to other government bidding and application processes, the province and BC Housing do not typically provide compensation to applicants for the cost of development prior to application results. We will update the sector when we are able to launch thenext intake.”

Even with the “adjustment in pacing,” capital investment in housing in the province remains at historic levels, the government said.

“We are still investingheavily in new housing and increasing funding for existing housing operations. In fact, Budget 2026 housing investments arenearly five times what they were in 2016, demonstrating our continued commitment to delivering the homes people need. Since 2017, the province has more than 95,000 homes

Continued on5

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF The development sign at 39900 Government Rd on the property, which shows both projects.

HOUSING:

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GOT NEWS?

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

INDIGENOUS-LED SEA TO SKY PROJECT GRANTED $1.5 MILLION FOR CLEAN FUEL INNOVATION

Over $1 million in government grants has been allocated to a new clean hydrogen project in Brandywine, coordinated primarily by the Lil’wat Nation

ATTRIBUTIONS

INA PACE ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

Ahealthy lifestyle isn’t just necessary for individuals; it’s also for the land around us, and in how we use it.

REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS

The Sea to Sky is making a“ win-win” headway in reducing its carbon footprint via community; the plan being to use clean hydrogen primarily to displace carbon emissions, in alignment withthe cultural values of First Nations.

On March3 at Sea to Sky Energy Solutions (SSES), Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Patrick Weiler—on behalf of Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson— announceda federal investment of just over $1.5 million through the Clean Fuels Fund to support the Brandywine Hydrogen Project.

HOW IT WORKS

The Brandywine Hydrogen Project, located at the hydroelectric plant in Brandywine Creek off Highway 99, will be an advancement of the existing plant: the Brandywine Creek Hydroelectric Project. The latter’s hydroelectricity will be utilized to produce green/ clean hydrogen via electrolysis (splitting water in hydrogen and oxygen.)

Clean hydrogen is hydrogen that is produced by renewable electricity, without any carbon dioxide (CO2) by-product.

Notably, the Clean Fuels Fund supports Indigenous-led projects for up to $50 million per capital project, and the Brandywine Hydrogen Project is being advanced by Eco Flow Energy Corporation, the majority of which is owned by the Lil’wat Business Group.

“We want our children to inherita healthy land and economy, and that’s what we’re working towards. So we’re very excited about this project,” Líl’wat Business Group CEO Rosemary Stager said.

“[We are] taking our rightful place in the economy, having more presence in our traditional territory, also aligning ourselves with businesses that have that Seventh Generation thinking or belief behind it It’s a win-win for us.”

Weiler, who saidhe visited the Brandywine Hydroelectric Plant in October 2024 alongside the former Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, and Chief Dean Nelson of the Líl’wat Nation, said that Canada is a leading country in clean fuels, while strengthening energy security and economic resilience.

“Clean fuels, especially hydrogen, are increasingly essential, especially for industries that are difficult to electrify,” Weiler said of the Sea to Sky.

“[The Brandywine Hydrogen Project] delivers employment, innovation and the type of energy development that is aligned with community values.”

HYDROGEN’S LONG-TERM

SSES project engineer Cora Moffat explained that the “goal and aim” of the initiative, which has been in progress since 2020, is to decarbonise energy transportation.

Transportation, she said, is one of B.C.’s largest CO2 emitters.

Moffat said that once the project is up and running, the plant will produce up to four tonnes of clean hydrogen a day (that’s enough–she said–to support 121 trucks), which will displace five million litres of diesel annually, and reduce almost 16,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Canada currently produces 8,000 tonnes of hydrogen per day, by reforming natural gas that emits carbon dioxide as a by-product.

SSES technical specialist Graham Zell elaborated on the long-term utilization of hydrogen for freight in the Sea to Sky, as well as manufacturing.

“Heavy Duty trucks [using diesel] are going to have to use hydrogen,” Zell said.

“They’re not going to be able to use batteries because of the weight and range considerations; this will be how they get from, say, Richmond or Surrey all the way to Edmonton. They need to do that in one shot, and they can’t stop to refuel.

“We’ll also findnew applications for hydrogen in process heat; so steel, making cement, [that] you can’t electrify. That’s going to be the only option.”

HOW WILL THE SCENERY AND ECOSYSTEMS BE AFFECTED?

Moffat said the development of the Brandywine Hydrogen Project will interconnect

PHOTO BY INA PACE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

Left to right: SSES engineer Jamie Kawchuck and technical specialist Graham Zell, Lil’Wat Business Group CEO Rosemary Stager, MP Patrick Weiler, SSES Engineers Cora Moffat, and David Charette at the project’s announcement in Squamish, March 3.

MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION EXPLORES OPENING TENT

CAMPGROUND

The Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association is exploring a small, tent-only backcountry campground north of town, pitching it as a way to reduce informal camping while generating revenue for trail maintenance

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

The Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association is looking to open andoperate a backcountry tenting campground.

“As Squamish’s reputation as a global mountain biking destination continues to grow, the demand for trail maintenance is outpacing the organization’s traditional funding sources,” Ian Lowe, executive directorof SORCA told The Squamish Chief. “As such, SORCA is exploring a variety of concepts to better support sustainable recreation and responsible trail stewardship.”

One concept under consideration, going back to fall 2024,he said, is a small campground designed to serve visiting mountain bikers and other outdoor users.

This type of campground would “help reduce informal camping pressures and enhance the overall trail experience.”

Revenue generated would be reinvested to maintain and improve Squamish’s trails for the broader community.

The proposed site north of Squamish is privately owned and currently being used by contractor Kiewit Corporation as a staging area for its equipment while work is being done on the adjacent Cheekeye Fan debris flow barrier.

There area few administrative hurdles at the regional governmentlevel, however, before the campground could become reality.

As the site falls within its jurisdiction, the proposal came up at the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board meeting on Feb. 26.

A letter from directorof Area D, Tony Rainbow, was submitted to the board for discussion as the SORCA campground doesn’t fit into the current bylaw that is geared for commercial camp sites.

Rainbow explained that SORCA doesn’t want to have any potable water or flush toilets, but rather urine diversion toilets. Nor do they want pads for recreational vehicles. Thus, Rainbow proposed that the board treat the SORCA proposal divorced from the commercial campground bylaw.

“I propose that we consider it as a case study that could be used to help writea bylaw for backcountry facilities, and that it be treated as a standalone application. This would save the applicant time in that they can prepare a proposal that is specific to their property, and it would save staff time as they could focus on the merits of the proposal and not have to go through the existing bylaw clause by clause,” Rainbow said in his letter to the board.

Rainbow stressed he wasn’t speaking in support of the project, just looking to advise them on the best pathway forward for their proposal to be considered.

He saidhe was approached by SORCA about their proposal and saw the challenges they faced.

Rainbow said half of SORCA’s bike trails are in Area D.

“They’re heavily used and people are camping and they’re doing so without any facilities at all. By pulling it together and getting it into one area, it enables them to do other things and also perhaps produces a bit of a revenue stream for them,” Rainbow said.

“They looked at our campground bylaw and they talked to someone on staff about our campground bylaw and it doesn’t fit what they want to do They wouldneed to apply for a variance But when we looked at what they wanted and we looked at our campground bylaw [they] would pretty well need to apply to vary just about everything.”

Claire Dewar, director of planning and development services for the SLRD, noted that campgrounds as a permitted use are very limited in Area D.

Area D includes Porteau Cove, Furry Creek and Britannia Beach, as well as from the edge of the northern border of the District of Squamish to Whistler.

Dewar also said that typically, the backcountry campsites within the region are run by the provincial government.

“The RR3 zone does not currently permit camping,” Dewar said of the proposed property site.

”So whether it’s primitive tent camping or whether it’s a commercial campground, a zoning amendment would be required The other alternative is a temporary use permit. And so

those are twooptions to address the land use that’s currently provided for on the site.”

She recommended the organization apply for a zoning amendment application, through that site-specific zoning process.

“Right now we don’t allow tourist accommodation-type tent camping. So unless you’re the province, you wouldneed to be applying for a zoning amendment as an initial step,” she added.

The project may also require an Official Community Planamendment.

Dewar said staff wouldneed more information from SORCA to be sure.

The property where the campground is proposed is zoned “community watershed protection.”

“There are really limited uses that are allowed there. And without knowing the full scope of the proposal, it’s not clear to me whether this could be considered dispersed outdoor recreation or intensive recreation,” Dewar said.

She also said she did not think there is a need or desire for an SLRD backcountry camping permit process as Rainbow suggested.

“We havevery limited application of what that would look like in the SLRD and right now they wouldneed a zoning amendment or a temporary use permit anyways. So we can address the management aspects through those processes which also includes referrals to provincial ministries to address servicing approaches, adjacent local governments and First Nations. So that process is working well.”

The directors for areasA and B spoke about SORCA perhaps approaching the provincial

So whether it’sprimitive tent campingor whether it’s a commercial campground,a zoningamendment would be required. CLAIREDEWAR

Recreation Sites and Trails BC to be able to forward the project on a piece of provincial Crown land instead.

Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to simply receive the submission from Rainbow. They also agreed to suggest the proponent— SORCA—make an application for the board to consider.

GENERAL SUPPORT FORA BACKCOUNTRY CAMPGROUND

Armand Hurford, SLRD director and Squamish mayor, said such proposals as SORCA’s may be a way forward to seeing more much-needed campingoptions in the region.

“Wehear often from the Squamish Nation about the desire to have peaceful enjoyment of their territory. And I think sort of the dispersed, informal, unregulated, impactful camping that happens broadly across the area is one of the main issues to address,” he said.

He added that with the province not investing in new campgrounds, there may be lessons in this application process for the board to pay attention to.

“We know the province they’re not making those investments that we’ve been lobbying for fora long time They’re not coming and if there is a way that private sector can fill this need, I think it could be a positive impact,” he said. “Of course, it is site-by-site and there’s more workto be done there, butI do think it is something that we should pay close attention to I am excited that this not-for-profit has decided to take this matter on and we’ll see how the rest of the process goes.”

Resort Municipality of Whistler director and board chair, Jen Ford, said she was grateful for SORCA’s efforts.

“I’m grateful to SORCA for taking this on and because they’re not private sector in the traditional sense. They’re mostly volunteers doing really, really important workto keep all of these areas contained and maintained,” she said “And this is really important to the ecosystem of that area and to the travelling corridors for so many of the species at risk in our region.”

PHOTO BY PATR KSLEZAK/COLLECT ON ISTOCK/ GETTY MAGES PLUS

A proposed tent-only campground aimed at visiting mountain bikers has landed at the SquamishLillooet Regional District board, where staff say the site’s current zoning does not permit camping and would likely requirea zoning amendment or temporary use permit.

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delivered or underway through B.C.”

HOUSING SQUAMISH ‘PIVOTING’

Ellis said that all is not lost The project is just changing coursesomewhat.

“We are looking to pivot the project. It’s not often that you have a municipality that’s willing to put land forward and it’s really important that we’re leveraging that opportunity,” Ellis said.

“We believe really strongly that housing now is better than housing in the future And so we have to be flexible and look to otheropportunities to fund.”

But again, the final project won’t be able to help those most in need of deeply subsidized rents, she said.

“What we do know is that other funding programs out there are not as generous as the BC Housing Community Housing Fund.

“It means that anynew building that we develop undera different funding model will likely involve shallower affordability. We won’t get that depth of affordability that we would have gotten right away from BC Housing Community Housing Fund,” she reiterated.

“But a rental building in the hands of a non-profitoperated under our operating model will be more secure for folks who are looking for security of tenure and also will beat the market over time We’re not incentivized to escalate rents whenever you can like a market operator is And so we’re hopeful that over time we will be more affordable compared to the market.”

‘ADVANCE PLANNING FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT’

The District stressed that Housing Squamish was looking at alternatives.

“While it is extremely disappointing that the affordable housing project proposed on the north side 39900 Government Rd. did not receive funding from BC Housing through the Community Housing Fund at this time, Squamish Housing is exploring alternative fundingopportunities to advance the project,”

HYDROGEN: Continued from3

within the already existing infrastructure on what is already “pre-disturbed” land.

“It’sa very low profile installation, there’ll be no buildings as such The hydro electric facility isn’t visible unless you are [there],” she clarified.

“We will definitely be doing our due diligence, and be doing a full environmental impact assessment by a qualified environmental professional maybe once every year for five years. There are things that even aesthetically might not make a difference, but there may be a species we [have not been] aware of in the last 20 years.”

POTENTIAL TO EXPAND?

Moffat clarified SSES would notnecessarily develop other project sites across B.C., rather they would concentrate on meeting demand in Vancouver, which she described as already being a hydrogen “hot spot.”

“[We would] export more electricity from the

said Rachel Boguski, District manager of communications, in an emailed statement.

“The District is continuing to do advance planning for the affordable housing component, and the project partners are working collaboratively on theoperational planning process for the two buildings which will be ongoing over the next four years. Advancing the project and being ‘shovel ready’ will strengthen the project’s competitiveness with future funding partners,” Boguski added.

“The supportive housing project proposed on the south side of 39900 Government Rd continues to have funding in place and is progressing through the municipal approvals process.”

‘WE NEED TO CREATE FLOW’

Lori Pyne, executive directorof Squamish Helping Hands, confirmed its portion of the project is moving ahead as planned.

“We are disappointed in the decision to not fund the affordable housing project as we need to create flow from the shelter to transitional housing to supportive to affordable,” she told The Squamish Chief. “We are unclear about how a joint campus will function, if it is not [Squamish Community Housing Society] as the operator We are great collaborative partners that recognize each other’s strengths and challenges.”

Pyne noted 53% of Squamish’s existing homeless population cite cost of living as the reason for their loss of housing.

Not moving ahead with the 100 affordable rentals “isa loss for the folks seeking deeply affordable housing that can live independently.”

The property is being cleared in its entirety this week in preparation for the supportive housing building.

“Weneed to continue to reinforce and fund the evidence-based value of supportive and complex care housing as essential public infrastructure that improves public safety, strengthens the resilience of local and ruralhealth-care systems, and reduces crisis response and community disorder,” Pyne said.

BC Hydro grid, and grow our hydrogen production with the footprint that we have, and the access to [Highway 99],” she said.

Furthermore, Zell suggested that by doubling the size of the 10 megawatt plant to 20 megawatts, say in 10 to 20 years time, the hydrogen could potentially be liquified in order to ship it at greater distances, and thereby decarbonize other areas of the province.

The Brandywine Hydrogen Project is currently in the development phase of front-end engineering and design (the evaluationof technical requirements, and risk mitigation.)

Funding for this initiative follows Prime Minister Carney’s announcement in September last year to impose new measures for biofuels, in light of competition for domestic renewable diesel, due to subsidized U.S. imports and trade barriers.

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.

2025 MedallionAward

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2026-2030Five-YearFinancial Plan Invitationfor Public Consultation

Regional Districtsare requiredtoadopt afive-yearfinancial plan,settingoutthe proposed expendituresand funding sources foreachservice.The financial plan is to be made availablefor public consultation.

Accordingly,membersofthepublicareencouragedtoprovide written submissionsandcommentsontheSquamish-Lillooet RegionalDistrict’sDraft 2026-2030FinancialPlan.Submissions andcommentsshouldbeforwardedtotheSquamishLillooet RegionalDistrictbyoneof thefollowingmeans:

Mail: Box219, Pemberton,BCV0N 2L0 Email:info@slrd.bc.ca

The2026-2030 DraftFinancial Planisavailable for review on the SLRDwebsite at: www.slrd.bc.caand includesan online pageon the GetInvolvedSLRDwebsite: https://getinvolved.slrd.bc.ca/2026-2030-financial-plan

TheSLRDBoard will considera bylaw to adopt the20262030 Financial Planatthe March25, 2026 Boardmeeting.

QUEST’S NEXT CHAPTER: PARTNERS OUTLINE DEGREES AND ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR PROPOSED NEW UNIVERSITY

Quest University Canada, which suspended operations after the 2022/23 academic yearamid financial pressure, could be headed fora revival

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

It looks like Quest University may be rising from its ashes thanks to a new post-secondary collaboration.

Columbia College and Quest University Canada announced on March5 they are collaborating to introduceanew university, uniting the two non-profits.

As Squamish locals know well, Quest University Canada was Canada’s first independent non-profit liberal arts and sciences university,opening its doors in 2007 on its hilltop campus in the Garibaldi Highlands.

Growing from 73 students its first year, to approximately 700 undergraduate students in 2017, Quest ran into severe financial pressures, that ultimately led it to close its campus and suspendoperations at the end of the 2022/23 academic year.

On its website, Quest states that since that closure the university continued to “offer a select number of courses, with the board actively laying plans fora strategic rebuild aimed at

we want to be able to offer the program to new demographics and just not have any baggage,” he said.

He said that the intervening years since Quest’s Squamish campus closed have been spent findinga way forward for the beleaguered program.

“Even when we announced the cessation of academic operations, we pledged to continue to work to relaunch the campus, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” he said “There’s been some false starts andobviouslya lot of changes to the post-secondary environment, but we’re thrilled to be able to find a partner with similar DNA to Quest and be able to move forward.”

The university continued to have a board of governors anda president, for example, which is required by the University Act.

Thenew university’s programs will have the small class sizes Quest was known for, too, and the essence of what made the Squamish post-secondary school unique.

Saveyourfreeseatat

transforming the institution into a more sustainable and resilient entity for the future.”

In 2023, Capilano University announced it was purchasing the former Quest University campus lands and buildings.

Joinusforaninformativeand interactiveseminaronthebest stepstowritingawilland planningyourestateinawaythat willbringyoupeaceofmind. whistlerfoundation.com

The Quest name and program were not part of the sale The CapU Squamish campus opened to a new cohort of students in the fall of 2024.

In a jointnews release, Columbia College and Quest University Canada say theirnew university’s inaugural programs will include a bachelorof arts and sciences degree, two associate degrees—associate of arts and associate of science—and specialized programs in allied health.

“The post-secondary sector is facing challenges across both public and private institutions, and the landscape is changing so quickly,” said Arthur Coren, president of Quest University Canada, in the release. “This partnership represents a strategic step forward, better positioning ourselves to expand access to programs, education, and training that respond to the province’s evolving skills and workforce needs, while serving learners and communities across the region.”

The proposal is awaiting approval from the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

“Thenew university will prepare thenext generation of graduates for meaningful careers,” said Matt Wadsworth, principal of Columbia College, in the release.

Columbia College was founded in 1936 and is an independent, not-for-profit institution. Its campus is in Vancouver.

“We’re excited to leverage both institutions’ academic strengths to deliver engaging academic programs that bring together quality curriculum, experienced faculty, andnew opportunities for students,” Wadsworth added.

Coren told The Squamish Chief that while the new university’s name hasn’t been decided on, it won’t be Quest. It is anticipated thenew name will be announced in a few weeks.

“Between the bankruptcy reorganization and then the closure of the academic programming,

“Our bachelor of arts and sciences is really the signature program, our cornerstone. So you’re going to see it followsa lot of the same structure with the two years for foundation and then the self-authored degree,” Coren said.

“We really want to maintain the spirit of that It’s still going to be designed for students who are intellectually capable and curious of nature, but we’re going to be downtown in Vancouver now,” he added.

“We also want to offer some things that are going to transition directly into the workplace and serve both theneeds of Canada and British Columbia.”

With student permit caps reducing the international student draw that Quest saw, this new university will be geared to domestic students, Coren said.

Coren said in a perfect world, classes at the new post-secondary institution would start this fall, but it depends on getting approval from the ministry.

“I think that there’s a great vision ahead for the new university and we will always have a debt of gratitude towards Squamish because that’s where we were born, and we’re on to the next chapter.”

Former Quest professor Andrew Hamilton said he wishes thenew iteration of the school well.

“I sincerely hope that it is successful,” he said “That whatever comes of the merger can give students some semblance of the experience they received at Quest, becauseI think Quest was an amazingly special place. Whether a new institution or whether this merger could do that in the current environment of post-secondary education in B.C. is not clear to me But it would be great if it could.”

Further details on the university’s launch and programs will be released as the merger continues to move forward, according to the release.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE The Columbia College campus in Vancouver.

PLANS IN THE WORKS FOR THE SQUAMISH TO 100 MILE HOUSE RAIL LINE AS CN PREPARES TO EXIT LEASE

With CN Rail set to end its lease on the Squamish-to-100 Mile House line in July, local leaders are being warned that the next few months could determine whether trains keep running—or whether parts of the corridor face sale for salvage value

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

There is an increasing sense of urgency around plans for the rail line between Squamish and 100 Mile House.

At Squamish’s council meeting on March 3, Peter Scholz, of Northern Development Initiative Trust, presented on the issue of what happens to the line once CN Rail gives it up in a few months.

As a reminder, in July 2025, CN Rail revealed plans to end its lease on the Squamish-to-100 Mile House rail line. This would return control to the provincial Crown corporation, BC Rail.

There is a sense of urgency about what happensnext because starting in July of this year, interested parties can assumeoperations for existing or new train services.

If noorganization steps forward, there is a chance the rail corridor could be sold for salvage value.

“It is a low probability, but it’s not a non-zero probability,” Scholz said.

PublicNotice:March12,2026

ProposedRadioCommunicationTowersat WoodfibreLNG

Woodfibre LNGGeneralPartnersLtd. (WoodfibreLNG)herebyprovidesnotificationtothepublic and theDistrictofSquamish, fortheproposed installation oftwocommunication towers on the Woodfibre LNGprojectsite. The purposeofthis noticeistoprovideopportunityfor review and commentonthetwoproposedcommunicationtowers.

Bothtowerswillbelocated withinthe secureperimeteroftheWoodfibreLNGplantsite on LotA, DistrictLots2351and8295Plan(EPP86843).

1. TheLNGFacilityOperationsTowerwill beused to supporton-siteradio andinternetservice during thefacilityoperationalphaseandhasbeendesigned to allowforextended radio coverage in theareaforSquamishFireandRescue.TheLNG FacilityOperationsTowerwillbea 30metrehighfree-standingmonopole locatednexttotheFacilityOperations Control building;the UTM NAD83Zone10coordinatesare N49°39’54.9091” andW 123°15’15.0653”.

2. TheHighVoltage (HV) Switch-yardtowerwill bolster communications withBCHydrowhich will providepowertothe operationalLNGfacility.TheHVSwitch-yardtowerwillbe a30metre highheavydutyself-supportingpre-fabricated towerwithtriangularcross-sectionslocated next totheHVSwitchyard;theUTM NAD83Zone10coordinates are N49°40’06.6644” andW 123°15’03.2520”.

Aspartof the publicnotificationprocess,WoodfibreLNG is followingtheformal notificationand publiccommentprocessasper the Innovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopmentCanada(ISED) process,asoutlined by CPC-2-0-03 —RadiocommunicationandBroadcasting AntennaSystems (canada.ca).

ForfurtherinformationcanbefoundontheWoodfibreLNGwebsiteat Woodfibrelng.ca/RadioTowers,orby contactingWoodfibre LNGatinfo@wlng.caor1-888-801-7929. Pleasesubmitcommentstoinfo@wlng.ca.Theclosingdateforthesubmission of comments isApril11,2026.

Northern Development Initiative Trust, an independent, non-profit corporation, based in Prince George, has taken the lead on a project to figure out what is possible, so the line is saved.

The trust is funding the project. Scholz said the trust has founda successful rail company that could take over the portion of the rail line between Brackendale and Exeter. Other goals of the project include getting letters of support from most or all of 24 First Nations whose territory the line passes through, getting understanding from all levels of government on the strategic and economic importance of the railway, and ideally, stopping all discussionof scrapping this portion of the line by the end of the project, which is set for the end of April.

“That is a subjective approach butI believe we are at a stage where political palatability for termination of the railway and understanding of the economic costs thereof are at a point where that it’s unlikely to occur,” Scholz said. He said that the issue of the big railways—CN and CP—discontinuing lines is notanew or

RAIL: Continued on9

Avis public: Le12 mars,2026

Projet d'installationdepylônederadiocommunicationà Woodfibre LNG

WoodfibreLNGGeneralPartners Ltd.(WoodfibreLNG) informe,parlaprésente,lepublicetle district de Squamishdesonintention d'installerdeuxpylônesdecommunicationsurlesiteduprojet WoodfibreLNG.Lebutduprésentavisconsiste àoffrirla possibilitéd'examineretdefournirdes commentairessurleprojetd’installationdes deux pylônesdecommunication.

Les deuxtoursserontsituées àl'intérieurdupérimètresécurisédusitedel'usinedeGNLWoodfibre, sur lelotA,lots dedistrict2351et8295, plan (EPP86843).

1. Latourd'exploitationdel'installation de GNLservira àassurerlesservicesderadioetd'Internet surplacependantlaphased'exploitationdel'installation.Elle aétéconçue pourpermettreune couvertureradioétenduedans la région pourleservice d'incendieetdesecoursdeSquamish (SquamishFireandRescue).Cettetourseraunmonopoleautoportantde30mètresdehaut situé àcôtédubâtimentdecontrôledesopérations de l'installation;lescoordonnéesUTM NAD 83 Zone 10sont N49°39’54,9091”et O123°15’15,0653”.

2. Latour dupostedecommutation àhautetension(HT)renforceralescommunications avecBC Hydro,quifourniral'énergienécessaire àl'exploitationdel'installationdeGNL. Cettetoursera unestructurepréfabriquéeautoportanterobustede30mètresdehaut,dotéedesections transversalestriangulaires,située àcôté duposte decommutationHT;lescoordonnéesUTM NAD83 Zone 10sont N49°40’06,6644”et O123°15’03,2520”.

Danslecadreduprocessusd’avispublic,Woodfibre LNGsuitla procédure officielledenotificationet de consultationpubliqueconformément au processus établiparleministèred'Innovation,Sciences et Développement économiqueCanada(ISDE),telquedécritsurlapageCPC-2-0-03 –Systèmesd’antennesderadiocommunicationetderadiodiffusion(canada.ca).

Pourplusd'informations,consultezle siteWebdeWoodfibre LNG àl’adresse Woodfibrelng.ca/RadioTowers,ou communiquezavecWoodfibreLNG àl’adresseinfo@wlng.caou au1-888-801-7929.

Veuillezsoumettrevoscommentaires àinfo@wlng.ca.Ladatelimited’envoidescommentaires estfixée au 11avril,2026.

NoticeofGrant of Assistance

British ColumbiaHousing Management Commission

Pursuant to Section24ofthe Community Charter, theCounciloftheDistrictofSquamish herebygivesnotice ofitsintention tograntassistancetotheBritish Columbia Housing ManagementCommission(BCHousing) by allowinguse of land at 37956 Loggers Lane (X̱ wúneḵw Park)forsixmonths foronedollar.

Business Opportunities

Request forProposals

•Recreation FacilityNeeds, Demand, andSiteAssessment

•Depot Road ActiveTransportationUpgrades

• Brennan Park Aquatic Centre Pool DeckUpgrades

Request forQuotations

•Pump StationElectrical ServiceUpgrades and Generator Installation

•Annual Paving Program

•Annual WatermainUpgrades squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

DevelopmentReview

• Highway99SalesSignfor Phase3 DevelopmentVariancePermit squamish.ca/review

InfrastructureUpgrades

•LoggersEast StormSewerprojectcontinueson FinchDrive.

•X̱wúneḵwPark SeaDikeupgrades continue,with intermittentnightworksongoing.

•Wastewatersystemupgrades willbetakingplace alongpartsof Madill Street,Garibaldi Avenue, BritanniaAvenueand Buckley Avenue,replacingan agingsanitaryforcemain.Single-lanealternating trafficwill be in placewhile work takesplace.

•VictoriaStreet ActiveTransportationUpgrades will be resumingshortly. squamish.ca/building-our-future

Signup for

HousingDesignCatalogue

TheDistrict isnowalocalgovernmentpartner with Canada MortgageandHousingCorporation’s Housing DesignCatalogue,expandingthe rangeof multiplexhousing designs available forconsideration inthe community: squamish.ca/design-catalogue

Signupfor Squamish Alert squamish.ca/alert

WildlifeEmergence: AClean SiteisaSafeSite

Areminder to developersthatasbearsbegin to emergefromhibernation,pleaseensurejobsitesare freeofwildlifeattractants.

If you’re buildinginbear country, youcanprevent wildlifeconflicts by:

•Storing foodandgarbage,and removingany potential attractants,including foodwrappers, coffeecupsandother food-scenteditems.

•Keeping vehicles completelyclosedup. Toreportwildlifesightingsorencounters, call theConservation OfficerServiceHotline at 1-877-952-7277

Formoretips,visit WildSafeBC.com

SpringBreak Camps SportballMultisport

atBrennan Park Recreation Centre

March16–20or March23–27,9 am–12 pm

Sportball’s action-packed camps introducechildrentoavarietyofball sportsandactivities,PLUSartsandcrafts, snacktime,stories,co-operativegames andmore!

Campsmayrunindoorsand outdoors, dependingonthelocationand weather.

Move n’ Groove (19YRS+)

atBrennan ParkRecreationCentre

Mondays,6:30–7:30 PM

Move n’Groove is afun,low-pressuredancefitness classblendingeasy-to-followchoreographywithbasic conditioning exercises.Low impact;noburpeeshere!

Spring Moss Wreath Workshop (19YRS+)

at The55 ActivityCentre

Wednesday, April1,7–8:45 pm

Professionalflorist,Bernadettewill leadstudentsincreating their ownspringmoss wreath to takehome.

Registrationcloses oneweekprior to the workshop to allowforthe rightamountoffreshmaterialsand greens to beordered.Workshop costis$50 to coverthe costofmaterials.Nodrop-ins.

FORMER WIGAN PIER SITE IN SQUAMISH SET FOR NEW TWO-STOREY MIXED-USE RENTAL BUILDING AFTER COUNCIL VOTE

The project will bring eight rental apartments and four commercial units back to a Garibaldi Estates site destroyed by fire in 2022

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

Atwo-storey mixed-use apartment building, with eight rental units and four commercial units, is coming back to the Garibaldi Estates neighbourhood.

At its March3 meeting, council voted unanimously to authorize the issuance of a development permit (DP) for the property, which is located at 40340 Tantalus Road. The site previously housed a mixed-use building with rental housing and commercial tenants—including Wigan Pier—that was destroyed by fire in 2022.

Because the applicant requested several variances to the zoning bylaw, the decision fell to council rather than staff to approve the DP.

Variances included reducing building setbacks on the property anda reduction in parking stalls. The permit guidelines say the proposed development should have 18 parking spaces—10 residential, six commercial, and

two visitor. The requested variance was that the development include 14 spaces: one space per residential unit and six total spaces for commercial and visitor use.

RAIL: Continued from7

unique one.

“Forty years ago, there was much less emphasis on import-export and more on local productionof both manufactured goods and natural resources,”he said. “And 40 years ago … the two main railways, Canadian Pacific and Canadian National, had the economic incentive to maintain wide extensivenetworks and many, many clients because they were shipping everything everywhere.”

Withthe de-industrialization transition, which started in the 1990s and continued through to about 2010, the market for the railways changed radically and the overall trade focus switched overwhelmingly to import-export functions and last-mile delivery services near or within the major metropolitanareas, he said.

“So CP and CN got focused on mainlines, big trains moving quickly, carrying very large loads, usually from a ship to a large city,” he said, “which is fine and good but the small and medium enterprises… tended to geta bit forgotten in the process.”

Saskatchewan saw the discontinuation of 30% to 40% of its rail network, according to Scholz.

While the problem isn’tnew, the solution isn’t either,he noted.

“[Saskatchewan] farmers got together and they basically got rights to a particular short-haul line that served theirneighbours and themselves, and they’d buy an old locomotive at an auction house and they would just figure out

how to use the train and they would use it for themselves,” he said.

Over half the short-haul rail companies in Western Canada are based in Saskatchewan,he added.

The same issue and the same solution is in play for the line from Brackendale,he said.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years on the Exeter and Brackendale line… there’sa lot of forest products that come out of Quesnel. They’re not coming down through Squamish. They are going up to Prince George around to Valemount and then down through the canyon to the city for export,” he said, adding it doesn’t have to be like that.

“The short-haul operator we have has researched and believes that they can have an operational, profitable model running between Exeter and Brackendale at a minimum, but they arenegotiating for additional track sharing rights at least to the port of Squamish and possibly farther north as well.”

Scholz said CN has been helpful withthe operator.

“I believe there’sa win-win-win situation where everyone can benefit—communities, the short line railways and the long-haul railways.”

Scholz and the project are looking for letters of support from municipalities like Squamish for the plan.

After Mayor Armand Hurford noted the issue was too big fora quick Q&A aftera delegation, council voted unanimously to move the issue to an upcoming committee of the whole for further in-depth discussion.

“The [Garibaldi Estates] Neighbourhood Plan supports shared use of commercial

RENTAL: Continued on 15

PHOTO BY AKA ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN/VIA DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH REPORT Rendering of the new building slated for 40340 Tantalus Road.

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TheSquamishChief is amemberof the National NewsmediaCouncil, whichisanindependent organization establishedtodealwithacceptable journalistic practicesand ethical behaviour. If youhaveconcerns abouteditorial content, please contactEditorJenniferThuncherat jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca.Ifyou arenot satisfiedwiththe response andwishtofilea formal complaint, visitthe websiteatmediacouncil.ca orcalltoll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Reproduction of anymaterial containedinthispublicationis expresslyforbiddenwithouttheprior writtenconsent of thepublisher.

EDITORIAL

‘LOOK, ASQUIRREL!’

You know that funnydistraction technique when someone asks ahardquestionand thetargetofthe question jokingly says, “Look! Asquirrel?”

Government leadersdo that quiteoften.

Afamousserious exampleiswhenthenU.S. presidentBill Clintonordered OperationInfinite Reach, thebombing of Al-Qaeda basesin Afghanistanin1998, days afterhavingtoanswer naggingquestions abouthis culpabilityinthe Monica Lewinsky scandal.

We will likely neverknowifthatisactuallythe reason he orderedthe bombingright then or if it was acoincidence,but it looked like away to distract thenarrative.

It happensinfar less impactfulwayscloserto homelike PremierDavid Eby, surrounded by literalexcited children,announcingB.C.has adopted permanent, year-round daylight saving time,after Sunday’s finalshift.

“Thisdecisionisn’t just aboutclocks. It’s about making life easierforfamilies, reducing disruptionsfor businesses andsupportinga stable, thriving economy,”Eby said in arelease March 8. “I am hopefulthatour American neighbours will soon join us in ending disruptive timechanges.”

This certainlyshifted theheadlines andthe narrativeawayfromthe doom andgloom that followed therelease of theprovincialbudget in February.

Abudgetthatpausedthe CommunityHousing Fund,leaving affordable housingprojects around the province,likethe Squamish Housing one with 100rentals,stranded.

It also paused long-termcareprojects, like the replacement of HilltopHouse,which hadbeen announced in 2024.

Those initiativeswouldhavegoneafurther wayto“making life easierforfamilies” than stopping thetimechange.

Granted, permanentdaylightsavingtimehas beenonthe agenda fora while.

As thegovernmentrelease notes, in summer 2019,the government didprettyextensive public engagement on thetimechanges,with223,000 respondents weighing in;93% supported adoptingyear-rounddaylightsavingtime.

Butthe timing of theannouncementisstilla little suspect.

As hisquotenotes,Eby hadpreviouslysaidthe end of thetime changeswould wait forthe U.S.—Washington, Oregon andCalifornia—to make thesamemove. They stillhaven’t.

Humans arehypocritesand we alltendto presentapositive spin on things andhighlight the likeable partsofourselves,justlikepoliticians,but it is worththe voting public—and journalists—stopping to notewhenwesee it happening.

FARMERS’ MARKET APPRECIATION

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK JENNIFER THUNCHER

Familiarity canbreed complacency. Thinkof anylong-term partnership; afterawhile,you stop noticing theperson’sshine.

Thesamecan be said forlocal farmers’ markets. They arealwaysthere forus, so afterawhile,we assume they always will be anddon’t give them the appreciation they deserve(sort of like thelocal newspaper, butIdigress).

OurSquamishFarmers’Market, operatingsince 2003,was abrief topicofdiscussionatthe March3 councilmeeting.Coun. John French drew attention to alettertothe mayorand councilfromthe BC AssociationofFarmers’Markets (BCAFM).

Theletternotes that theBCFarmers Market NutritionCouponProgram,incollaboration with SeatoSky CommunityServicesand PearlSpace, providesparticipantswith$27 aweekfor 16 weeks to purchase freshfood. Morethan145 lower-income householdsredeemedabout $63,000incoupons at theSquamishFarmers Market in 2025.

“I seethatnot only benefiting seniorsand others in need in Squamish.It’sahugebenefit as well for

thefarmers whoare growingproduce in our region,” said French.“Thoseare thefarmers that arecontributingtoour long-termfood security in theregion.”

So,while themarketisafun andcoolplace to go foruslocalswanting to shop closetohome sustainably, it is much more than that forsome residents. French also notedthatthe market is vital to activity downtown.

“The farmers’ market is asocialgathering space that brings folksintothe downtown andprovides ourdowntowncorewithvitality,”hesaid. “So, Isee thecouponprogram contributing to thefarmers’ market,which is arealplusfor ourdowntownas well.”

BCAFMdoesnot have securedfunding forthe 2026 coupon programseasonorbeyondand was asking forcouncil’s supportinthe form of aletter from theDistricttoMinisterofHealthJosie Osborne. French supportedthe requestwitha motion,which therestofcouncil unanimously agreed to.

“Supportingour localagriculture is critically importantand also supporting people having access to it is critically importantaswell,” concurredCoun. Lauren Greenlaw.

MayorArmandHurford will penthe letter.

MARKET: Continuedon11

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

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

MARKET: Continued from 10

“I think that often theoptions presented for lower-income families that do require support, such as this or the food bank, are highly processed foods,”

said Hurford. “And I think that this has a lot of co-benefits to ensure that real nutritional food from local production sources is accessible to everyone in our community. So, I’m happy to support this and draft the letter.”

Next time youhead to the market, maybe do it with fresh eyes for what it provides the whole community. While you are there, if you have one, it wouldn’t be a badidea to look at your long-term partner anew, too.

DECISIONS: A local crosses the tracks with his pooch. Of course, as artistic and profound as this photo is, we should say that CN stresses that each time someone crossesa railroad track there is a potential for danger “Never walk, cycle or drive along railway tracks,” CN says.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

NOT BOTHERING ME

Regarding letters to the editor being negative about Stu Snowball’s birdhouses in Crumpit Woods.

A message for Stu Snowball: don’t let a vocal minority get you down. Summer’s

Eve is a humanmade boardwalk overlooking a hundred manmade human houses. Your bird houses aren’t ruining any natural setting for me, they’re improving a manmade one. Though maybe as a compromise to those who are concerned,

keep them to the boardwalk area?

And if the houses are indeed bad for the birds (I’m not qualified to say) I’m sure you can plug the holes.

Jesse Van Hove Squamish

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

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you support the shift to permanent, year-round daylight

time?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

When were you last in Squamish Public Library? (Top 3 answers)

MOST READ STORY

Where are things at with the Woodfibre LNG project and associated pipeline?

PHOTO BY VICTORIA MARCHANT

PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS

Your future starts here

Globalenergy.Localopportunity.

As Canada’s LNGindustrygrows, so doestheopportunity to helpbuild somethingbold,different and built to last:an electrified,netzerofacilityshapedinpartnershipwith Sḵwxwú7meshÚxwumixw (SquamishNation)and rootedright hereintheSea-to-Sky.Whether you’rejuststartingoutor looking forameaningfulnext step,thisisyourchance to builda long-term careerwith acompanythatwillhelp powertheworld fordecades to come —righthereinSquamish.

woodfibrelng.ca/careers

WHERE ARE THINGS AT WITH THE WOODFIBRE LNG PROJECT AND ASSOCIATED PIPELINE?

FortisBC’s tunnel beneath the Squamish Estuary is nearing the finish line, but the District of Squamish is escalating concerns about what’s coming out of it

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca

FortisBC tunnelling under the Squamish Estuary is approximately 90% complete from the BC Rail site and 70% complete from the Woodfibre LNG side.

This information was included in a report to council by District staff on March3 regarding the Woodfibre LNG and associated FortisBC pipeline project.

The staff report on the projects also notes that construction is underway at the Woodfibre LNG site for thenew FortisBC compressor station.

Further, the staff report says FortisBC is looking at temporary worker accommodation options at the end of Indian Arm, which is within Metro Vancouver’s jurisdiction.

It also highlights that Finch Drive between Loggers Lane and Highway 99closed on Jan. 12 and is expected to stay closed until fall of 2026 (The RCMP detachment at the intersection

Squamish OnDemand

Effective March30,2026

OnDemandisBC Transit’smodernon-requesttransitoption thatofferstransitridersthe convenienceofbooking tripsusing asmartphoneapp,orbyphone,fortransitservice. OnDemandserviceoffersmoredirecttrips,quickercommutes,andshorterwaittimes.

HowtoRidewith OnDemand

It’syourchoicehow to book –app orphone.OnDemandtransit is available inthe downtownSquamish, Oceanfront,SEAandSKY, Redbridgeand St’á7mesareas, Monday throughFridayfrom8:15a.m. to 6:45p.m.

Downloadthe OnDemand Appfromthe Apple StoreorGooglePlayStore OR

Callthe OnDemandcallcentreat1∙855∙995∙5872

Regulartransitfares and payment options applyto OnDemand trips. OnDemand is not available fortripsthatstartand endentirely withinthe downtowncore.

For more information aboutOnDemand, please visit bctransit.com/ondemand or call ourtransitinfoline at 604∙892∙5559.

remains accessible, however, and pedestrians can still get through to Loggers Lane.)

Staff noted FortisBC has also applied to the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) for an amendment to its permit to increase the permitted discharge volume from its BC Rail site from 1,500 cubic metres per day to 6,815 cubic metres per day to “allow for the treatment and discharge of additional volumes of water encountered due to water ingress within the tunnel being constructed” to support the pipeline project.

This means the crews encountered more water than they expected, which is running into the tunnel.

They also have stated that there is more copper and aluminum in the water so are asking to be allowed more of it in their discharge.

“The application requests changes to discharge quality requirements from applicable (acute freshwater) BC Water Quality Guidelines to 0.00366 mg/L for dissolved copper and to establisha numeric discharge water quality limit for dissolved aluminum at 2.42 mg/L,” reads the FortisBC Environmental Protection Notice.

A 30-day public consultation period was open on this application until March 7.

At the meeting on March 3, Coun Chris Pettingill proposed the District provide feedback prior to the deadline.

He put forwarda resolution for that feedback that was supported by council with a vote of 6 to 1, with only Coun. Eric Andersen opposed.

The resolution as Pettingill relayed it in the meeting reads:

“Whereas the [FortisBC’s Eagle MountainWoodfibre Gas Pipeline Project] was approved with an expectation of adherence to water pollution regulations; and whereas subsequent to the project approval FortisBC has already been granted higher levels of effluent discharge based in part on their own commitments to address any exceedances of those higher levels;

and whereas FortisBC has been exceeding pollution and effluent levels allowed by the permit they asked for and committed to; resolve that the District provide feedback to the BCER FortisBC effluent discharge permit increase process that:

1. The District does not support an increase in pollution or effluent volumes and;

2.That the proponent should be held accountable for exceeding their current permit conditions.

Councillors in support of this resolution, including Pettingill, spoke to theneed to hold proponents to account and for regulators to regulate with more than warning letters.

“I just think it’s important to comment on this and to address these issues that we are consistently experiencing,” Coun. Lauren Greenlaw said in her support for the resolution.

Coun Jenna Stoner also spoke to what she sees as a lack of enforcement by regulators.“I think it continues to be disappointing to see time and time again that as the Environmental Assessment Office does do reviews of this project, they continue to provide warning letters but no real impact on change on the ground, but some further leeway for them to then just amend their permits yet again,” she said.

“So I think that continues to undermine, I think, our community’s… confidence in how we hold this company accountable andI think it’s important that we continue to reiterate that to the [BC Energy Regulator] and the appropriate regulators.”

Andersen, the sole dissenting vote, did not support the resolution as he saidhe didn’t have enough science-backed information on the situation and inferred it felt hypocritical.

“We, the District of Squamish, have been involved in exceeding pollution and effluent levels certainly beyond desirable levels,” he said.“I don’t seea need for our District to send a letter with this precise wording because we, the District, are also polluters.”

As part of this discussion Pettingill also took issue with a Woodfibre LNG advertisement in The Squamish Chief that touts the benefits of the floatels for its workers.

He asked how the work of a Cumulative Impacts Committee, made up of representatives of Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC, which District staff attend, could be “surfaced.”

“There are enormous challenges withthe way housing has been handled here and I think it’s important that there’s an honest and complete conversation, especially as this committee is hopefully grappling with some of the challenges and so on as opposed to this very one-sided advertisement,”he said.

“Weneed to find a way to provide visibility into that [committee] work, whichI think was really important to the community and is important to many aspects of our planning and thinking, advocacy and so on,” he said, acknowledging that some parts of the work on committees is confidential.

“I want to sort through how we can make this informationmore transparent to the public,” he added.

In response to this, Greenlaw proposed a motion, supported by her colleagues, directing staff to debrief council after Cumulative Impacts Committee meetings.

Finally, the District staff report notes that there is an upcoming open house regarding the Woodfibre LNG Interconnection Project (a BC Hydro project), which will seea second power line within the existing right of way from the Cheekye substation, through Brackendale, to Woodfibre LNG.

Theopen house will be held on March 31, at the Executive Suites Hotel from 4 to 7 p.m.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Council discussed the report on March 3.

RENTAL: Continued from9 and visitor spaces and is consistent withthe [Official Community Plan] climate action plan and transportation master plan policy,” said the District’s Philip Gibbons, a planner with community development “Staff support the proposed parking reduction due to the small building size, provision of rental units, the close proximity to daily services, employment opportunities, schools, and the regular transit service.”

The Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood Plan was adopted by council in June 2025 District staff are now drafting a series of new zones for Garibaldi Estates.

‘FUTURE-FRIENDLY’

Before council voted on the development permit at its meeting on March 3, there was a public hearing where the proponent, Ron Gidda, whose family owned the property when the former building was destroyed by fire, spoke about the proposal.

“At the end of the day, we’re a small family. My parents have been running this business since 1974, and due to unforeseen circumstances, they lost a building. Now, we’re just trying to rebuild something that will actually fit in the area as there’s future growth,” he said, adding the family wanted something that was “future- friendly.”

There were no other speakers, for or against the proposal.

SAMPLE COUNCIL COMMENTS

“I appreciate the applicants for bringing

At the end of the day, we’rea small family. My parents have been runningthis business since 1974,and due to unforeseen circumstances,they lost a building.

RONGIDDA

this forward. It makesa lot of sense. It was a real loss for the communityI think, and so seeing similar, butI would say updated units, back in that space will be a great asset to the community,” Coun. Chris Pettingill said.

“I think this is of the many places to consider lowering parking, a good place to do that given the proximity and our transit plans and the employment there.”

Coun. John French said this commercial property is one of the few he could think of that has been held by a Squamish family for so long.

“This development is, of course, providing us with much-needed housing along with employment space in theheart of the Garibaldi Estates commercial area,” he added.

PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS

SPECTACULAR NATURE: A turkey tail fungus, which photographer Brian Aikens calls “gorgeous.”

BritanniaMine Museum gratefullyacknowledges their communitysponsors:

WATCH THERECLAMATION OF INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURE AT LOCAL FILM SCREENING

A free film screening about Indigenous agriculture and food sovereignty will show at Totem Hall on March 19

INA PACE

ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

“This [film] is a very specific example of how colonization has continuing effects on all sectors, all aspects of Indigenous life.”

Non-profit Story Money Impact’s (SMI) impact director Anthony Truong Swan explained his latest campaign as such.

Organizing documentary screenings is a way of creating space for important conversations, he said.

Swan reached out to Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sxwéxwel (Squamish Nation’s Squamish Valley operations), the Squamish Community Foundation, and Squamish Climate Action Network (CAN) to organize a free screening of Indigenous documentary Tea Creek at Totem Hall (1380 Stawamus Road) on March 19.

At theheart of Tea Creek is a topic that explores, according to Swan,a “healing” approach to what some people–particularly those involved in the produce trade–may consider a mundane aspect of life; food sovereignty, meaning that one has control over their own food sources.

In this case, the documentary’s central figure–Indigenous food sovereignty activist Dzap’l Gye’awin Skiik Jacob Beaton–is using traditional knowledge to teach independence from corporate structures, which historically do not prioritize theneeds of Indigenous communities.

“I’m trying to screen the film to connect audiences withthe effects of colonization to Indigenous food insecurity. This is a problem that’s happening all across not just B.C., but Canada,” Swan explained.

“We’re trying to spotlight an economic development piece, [by screening] these films to communities [who] could use that information in a way that’s going to make the worlda better place.”

The film follows how Beaton, within three years, transformed his family farm in Kitwanga (northern B.C.) through the growing season into Tea Creek: an Indigenous food sovereignty training centre hosting apprenticeships for Indigenous Canadians, to revive and reintegrate agricultural abundance that was a result of Indigenous knowledge and expertise.

SMI’s website reads that this expertise “historically outperformed colonial agriculture practices, until that knowledge was erased by colonial systems and residential schools.”

According to Swan, Beaton’s traditional agricultural knowledge saved several settler communities, but records have been historically erased by settler agriculture.

He clarified that SMI wanted to support the local land-based healing practices and hydroponic initiatives ofSḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) as well as asking for Elder knowledge about food sovereignty.

“We’re all working together, which is giving us all theopportunity to build ournetworks and support each other’s activities. The more Indigenous communities that are growing their own food, the more [they] are self-sustainable,” Swan said.

“A lot of back room conversations can start happening in earnest, in a more intentional way,”he continued, reflecting on the potential of further Indigenous food produce initiatives. If an organizationor initiative is Indigenous owned or led, that’s “the big unifying piece” he explained.

I’mtrying to screenthefilm to connect audiences withtheeffects of colonization to Indigenousfood insecurity.

ANTHONYTRUONG SWAN

The screening of Tea Creek has around 40 guests confirmed at the time of publication, all of whom, Swan said, are involved in food or Indigenous sovereignty.

A moderated audience Q&A discussion about regenerative and Indigenous agriculture with local panelists will follow the screening.

It is a one time event open to all members of the community, in order to see how they can help with cultural reclamation, according to Swan.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. on March 19, when guests will also be served with locally prepared food and refreshments, provided by Squamish CAN.

The screening will begin at 6.30 p.m., followed by the Q&A at 7.45 p.m.

Folks may register in advance to help organizers plan accordingly, and reduce food waste: www.storymoneyimpact.com/squamish. Tea Creek will also be screened on Salt Spring Island, and in Victoria and Toronto this month.

The Squamish Chief reached out to Squamish Nation for comment, but did not receive a response by press deadline.

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

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF STORY MONEY IMPACT

The Indigenous documentary about food sovereignty and agricultural reclamation, “Tea Creek,” will screen at Totem Hall on March 19.

PHOTOS BY AUNI DAYTON

REACH FOR THE SKY: Glacier Air held its annual Fly it Forwardevent for women and girls at airport on Saturday While the usual free flights were grounded due to the weather, guests enjoyed looking at the planes, and inspirational speeches from Johanna Wagstaffe, Jenna Forseth, Avena Herron, Amy Li-Lyon and Jessica Charter.

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SQUAMISH NATION MEMBER COMMENDED FOR LEADERSHIP WITH UVIC ALUMNI AWARD

Yataltenat Kelley McReynolds has been awarded for her efforts in Indigenous leadership by her university

INA PACE ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

“Isee myself as a matriarch within my community… People need to know they are ‘wa iyím taSḵwxwú7mesh’, which means ‘Squamish strong,’ and they have many reasons to be proud of that.”

Such are the words of Nexwninlhewa7nem Ch’awch’aw (People Services) executive director andSḵwxwú7mesh’ Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) member Yataltenat Kelley McReynolds, according to a University of Victoria (UVic) news release.

McReynolds, who studied the Master of Social Work Indigenous Specialization program as a social worker at UVic in 2022, has been announced as this year’s winner of an Indigenous Community Alumni Award.

This award category is one of three from the

Distinguished Alumni Awards; the other categories being the Presidents’ Alumni Awards, and the Emerging Alumni Awards.

The announcement for McReynolds was made on Feb. 23.

The Indigenous Community Alumni Award recognizes the contributions of UVic’s alumni to “Indigenous communities, which have improved outcomes for Indigenous people and contributed to Truth and Reconciliation,” the release states.

Eligible nominees must holda degree, diploma or certificate from UVic, have completed 15 units of studies at Victoria College or graduated from Victoria Normal School.

McReynolds has spent over three decades in social work and community service, during which time she has worked to de-centre child welfare support systems designed by colonial institutions; instead focusing on support with Indigenous approaches from the Nation, and from other Indigenous communities across the province.

According to UVic, McReynolds describes the homecoming of Nation children, displaced by colonial welfare systems, as one of the most profound aspects of her work; not just physically, but through ceremony, language, and stories.

Leaving Alberta for a “calling” back to Squamish in the mid-2000s, she spent 16 years working with Ayás Ménmen (Child and Family Services), before also overseeing Ta7lnewás (Education, Employment and Training), Yúustway (Health and Wellness) and Ts’ixwts’ixwnítway (Member Services), as of 2023.

“We engage the community, the people, the Elders and other knowledge keepers. It’s got to be coordinated across all sectors of our work, looking at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritualneeds of families and individuals,”

Ialways sayit’s aboutthe teaand bannock: sitting downand really being genuine.

YATALTENATKELLEYMCREYNOLDS

McReynolds said, in the UVic news release.

“I always say it’s about the tea and bannock: sitting down and really being genuine.”

McReynold’s recently spoke to The Squamish Chief at the soft opening of Brackendale’s Healthy Hub on Feb. 13, where she reiterated this organic approach in enabling people to feel safe, even in moments where conversation may be difficult.

“Maybe [healing] is just coming [to Healthy Hub] for some tea and bannock; to be able to sit down with somebody that’s going to listen to you, talk to you,” she said at theopening.

According to UVic’s website, McReynolds describesher role as helping people to understand these conversations aren’t about “tearing anyone down.”

“They’re about building on our strengths, and creating space for growth and change,” the website reads, regarding her sentiments.

Regarding McReynolds’ academic studies, the news release explains how she felt her leadership and self-awareness was strengthened.

“It was an opportunity for me to devote more time into literature reviews, research that was out there, and to enhance my vision of what’s possible,” McReynolds said.

Two more winners of the Indigenous Community Alumni Award have also been announced.

Sqwulutsultun, William Yoachim: a Snuneymuxw First Nation leader and executive director of Kw’umut Lelum who built a nationally recognized, Coast Salish–rooted child welfare model keeping Indigenous children connected to family and community.

Patricia Barkaskas: co-created the Indigenous Cultural Competency Certificate, which is now a model for decolonizing law across Canada She also pioneered Métis law rooted in Michif language and teachings.

Folks can find the full list of the 2026 UVic Alumni award winners, alongside their biographies, on Uvic’s Alumni Awards web page.

Nominations for next year’s Indigenous Community Alumni Awards will open in spring.

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

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

PHOTO BY INA PACE/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Kelley McReynolds at the opening of Healthy Hub, Feb. 13.

SQOMISH FORESTRY LOOKS TO ENGAGE SQUAMISH SCHOOL KIDS IN LAND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH CEDAR AND LOG DONATIONS

Sqomish Forestry has donated around 1,000 cedar seedlings anda canoe log to Squamish school students to broaden their learning opportunities

INA PACE

ipace@lodestarmedia.ca

“This is the forestry town; that’s how Squamish is built. [We want to] get kids more interested in forestry, and the type of work we do.”

Sqomish Forestry’s special projects superintendent Roger Lewis explained the motives behind the Indigenous company’s latest education initiative in Squamish; that is, to encourage school kids to plant cedar seedlings, and to carvea race canoe.

Since 2019, Sqomish Forestry has operated under theSḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) business arm Nch’ḵay.

“Sqomish Forestry shared about 1,000 western red cedar and yellow cedar seedlings with our friends and community members at the Squamish Nation’s Nexwsp’áyaḵen ta Úxwumixw (Community Operations), Ta na wa Yúus ta Stitúyntsam (Rights & Title), and Elders teams, the St’a7mes School, and Don Ross Middle School,” Nch’ḵay announced on their LinkedIn page last month.

Planting these seedlings is “a way to brighten up shared spaces, and to bring new life to the land,” the post continues.

According to Lewis, a canoe log was also delivered to St’a7mes School. Logs harvested and donated for canoes are typicallya minimum of one metre (three feet) as a single canoe, and up to 16 metres (52 feet) for an 11-person canoe.

HOW DO THE DONATIONS INTEND TO BE USED?

Nch’ḵay’s vice president of forestry and sustainability Molly Hudson explained that the Nation intend to use their donations of cedar seedlings to rehabilitate sites such as schools as cedar itself has cultural significance with Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and other coastal First Nations.

“As a forestry company, we want to create connections to the community, and really be a Squamish Nation owned business in Squamish that is providingopportunities. Schools are great at creating thoseopportunities for the kids,” Hudson said.

According to Lewis, it is also intended for students at St’a7mes School to have hands-on experience for the first time under the guidance of master carvers, who will do the critical cuts on the canoe log. The canoe is intended to be ready to race in the spring, hosted by the Nation from Ambleside in West Vancouver.

The kids themselves, of course, won’t be handling any chainsaws, he clarified. Hudson confirmed that both the race canoe carving and classroom sponsored planting projects are intended to commence in the spring once there’s less chance of snow, though there is no obligation for the kids as to whether they

plant the seedlings at home or at school.

Sqomish Forestry will also offer the kids guided nature walks in addition to talks about different sectors of forestry; namely harvesting, silviculture, and cultural knowledge, Lewis added.

WHY DID THE DONATIONS COME ABOUT?

Lewis explained that the seedlings and the log donation are the brainchild of Sqomish Forestry’s August 2025 intern John Yelton, who also drums withthe Nation, and is involved with St’a7mes School Sqomish Forestry also chose to donate to Don Ross because of its Nation member students in attendance.

Lewis, who works in cultural log distribution— for canoes logs and welcome poles—delivered boththe seedlings and the log donation himself last month.

Lewis has made his “entire career” from forestry, starting at the age of 12, and is following the footsteps of his family who have worked in forestry for generations.

“It’s just great to be outside. It’s very grounding. There’sa cultural connection as well, in making sure we take care of our land,” he said.

CONSOLIDATING CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Nation bought Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 38 in 2005, before establishing Sqomish Forestry as part of a local partnership in 2009 The $6.5 million purchase from the multinational corporation Interfor created opportunities not just for employment, but for cultural stewardship.

The latter had not been valued under prior management of the tenure, according to Nation council chairperson Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams. Hudson attested to the Nation’s investment in TFL 38, which she said covers around 175,000 hectares in the Squamish Valley, and around Cat Lake.

“The Nation wanted to be the decision makers in forestry in their territory,” Hudson said.

“I think a lot of the rationale for the investment they made [in 2005] was a bringing back of that stewardship to the Nation’s people, and not just the council and government, but people on the ground.”

Sqomish Forestry’s donations last month are not just about conserving culture however.

Lewis emphasized that the students’ education through Sqomish Forestry’s donations is designed to promote not only cultural knowledge and acknowledgement, but opportunities for business and employment.

“This is the first time the children have been involved with Sqomish forestry. [We want to] see if we can get the kids interested [in forestry] as a career; once you get your foot in the door with forestry, you could be working at the log store, you could be out in the woods harvesting, you can get involved with wildfire fighting,” he said.

“The wholeidea behind making the donations to these schools was an awareness piece.”

WHY SO MANY SEEDLINGS?

Hudsdon clarified that Sqomish Forestry’s seedling donations are excess; those left over from the business’ planting season every spring and fall.

Sweet,sweet Sable.

The forestry industry often has excess seedlings due to predictions, which are not always accurate.

Due to the industry replanting every tree that is harvested, the amount of seedlings must be predicted two years in advance.

WILL THESE INITIATIVES CONTINUE?

As for future initiatives, Lewis hopes a rounded education about land management, involving such donations, may become an annual occurrence.

Furthermore, he also hopes that canoe racing may be facilitated in Squamish in the future, rather than just at Ambleside. He said that the majority of the time, log donations go to artists and carvers based in Vancouver.

As Squamish continues to expand and to draw more folks in from the city, Lewis said it is likely more education initiatives may follow suit.

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

Sableisn’t just obvious beauty,she’s ultra-curiousand lovesdiscovering allthe fun things inlife. Sablethrives ina calm environmentthatletsher inquisitivenatureshine through. Sheloves affectionand attention, usingher master climbing skills to findit (how “Squamish” of her).Whether she’s assessing things around herorplanning her journeytothe topshelf,her bright mind is always firing. Meet this silver stunnerand findout if shechooses you!

PHOTO COURTESY OF SQOMISH FORESTRY The racing canoe donated to St’a7mes School.

January27,1935 –January21,

NormRutherfordpassedaway peacefullyinSquamish Hospiceoneweekshortofhis91stbirthday. Hewasbornin Powell River,thethird childina familyoffour.Asateenager,hewent to BrooksHigh Schoolplayingbasketballandvolleyballthereand socceron acommunityteam.Upongraduating,hewasaccepted at UBCand spent anumberofyearsineither classortakingayearouttoearnenough moneytogoback.Duringthose “out”years,hegained agreatdealofwork experienceespeciallyinthepulp mills in PowellRiverandOcean Falls. He also gained awife,whowouldspend64yearswithhim.

After graduation,witha BachelorofCommercedegree,Normwenttoteachon a“letterofpermission”firstinFortSt.Johnand then in Fernie. Attheendof thosethreeyears,hedecidedtoreturntoUBCtogethisteachingcertificate. NormandhisfamilymovedtoKitimatin1967, aplacetheyallenjoyedforten years.Whilethere,he puthisbasketballandsoccerskillstousecoaching girl’sbasketballandboy’s soccer.Healsobecamethe vice-principal ofthe 1200studenthighschool(MESS).HemovedtoSquamish duringthesummer of 1977foranexciting new opportunity.

InSquamishhewasthe firstprincipalofBrackendaleSecondary(nowDon Ross),thenhemovedtoHoweSoundand finally PembertonSecondaryfrom whereheretired.Oneofhisfondest memorieswasthe day ofthe GreatTrek. Hewassoproud of theyoungpeoplewhowalkedfromHoweSoundtothe newschool.

Normlovedtheoutdoors,happiest whilehecampedanywhere,withspecial memoriesof atriptoRedSandsLake.Hekayakedalloverthecoastfrom SaltspringtoDesolationSound,theBrokenIslandstoCortes.Heloved fishing forhalibutorspringand settinghiscrabtraps down theDouglasChannel.He alsoenjoyedallthebikingtrips he took,especiallytakingthetraintoHalifax to ridethroughmuchofNovaScotiaandtravellingtoEuropeto cyclealong theDanube.

Normlovedtheyearsheplayedbridge,themanymoreyearshespentcurling, thelast 7yearshespentwalkinghis dog, Koboandthemanylovely people hemetalongtheway.

Previously Century21, ouroffice hasbeen providing exceptional

Heisgreatlymissedbyhiswife,Shirley,theirchildrenKevin(Terry),Kim (Grant),andMichael,grandchildrenMelissa(Matt),Samantha(Isaiah) Tamara (Ian),Karly(Keaton),JaredandRhysandhistwo nieces, HeatherandKathy. Thefamilywouldliketothankthestaff at boththeSquamishHospitalandthe kyHospicefortheircare.

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ACROSS

1. Love seat

5.Makeachoice

8.Minus

12.Bigbirds

13. Away

14. Atop

15.Bitofsmoke

16. Tread

18.Navigated

20.Paperamounts

21. Auto

22.Bugle

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26.Mare’smorsel

27.Exercise room

30.Abilities

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33. Provote

34.North Pole worker

35.Mortgages

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38. View closely

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41.Sniffed

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51.Mostsuperb

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53.Charter

DOWN

1.Bastes

2. Fail to mention

3.Electricaldevice

4.Qualities

5.Suggestion

6. Push

7. Likewise

8.Defeatedone

9. Snarl

10.Halt

11.Drenches

17.Hurry

19.Beam

22.Derbyorcap

23. Forage grass

24.Exist

25.Arenas

26.Clod

28.Japanesemoneyunit

29.Pas’ mates

31. Moose’s cousin

32. Flycatcher

34.Ohiolake

35.Causticstuff

37.Dealout

38.Grindingmaterial

39.Lobster’srelative

40.Household

41.Fuss

42.Dwell

43. Equal

44.Pubmissile

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Crossword puzzleanswers use Americanspelling

LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:

HOROSCOPE WEEKOFMAR12,2026 -MAR18,2026

ARIES March21-April19

Yourfriends willinviteyou to participateinanespecially enthrallingactivity.This may be just what you need if you’ve been keepingtoyourself lately.Ifyou’resingle,this outingcouldopenthedoor to anunexpectedromantic encounter.

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SUDOKU

LEO July23-Aug.22

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