PAGE 15 TRY IT DAY!
Local students try what it is like to participate in the Winter Paralympic Games
DA cal st s what li to part e Wint Games
PAGE 13 TALES FROM THE OLYMPICS
See what biathlete Jasper Fleming has to say about his first trip to the Games
A new joint task force between the District and the Squamish Nation is now officially underway
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
n a move that will be watched by many within Squamish and beyond, the District of Squamish has moved a step forward on a path of reconciliation with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
At its March 17 meeting, staff reviewed the Land Back Task Force terms of reference, and council unanimously appointed Mayor Armand Hurford,
LAND BACK: Continued on 2
IS THIS ABUYER’SorSELLER’S MARKET?
If you’re thinking aboutBuying or Selling ahome today, you’re probablywondering one of twothings: Is this agood timetobuy? OR Is this agood timetosell?
LAND BACK: Continued from 1
Coun Jenna Stoner and Coun. Eric Andersen to serve on the task force.
According to a District spokesperson, to arrive at the chosen members who will serve on the task force, councillors each shared their capacity with Hurford. This information then informed the recommended motion for the three to be appointed.
At the same meeting, council also unanimously approved the task force terms of reference
“This is incredibly important work,” said Hurford, who then read directly from the terms of reference
“The Land Back Task Force exists to research, learn, and engage both District of Squamish residents and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People on the concept of Land Back Its primary goal is to develop a framework for Land Back in the District of Squamish, including policy considerations for future public land dispositions by the District and joint use of District lands.”
He said it is “incredibly important” to have this dialogue with the Nation and with the community around what the task force is and what it is not.
“The task force does not have decision making power in and of itself, and neither does this group have decision making power over private land. That is not what it’s about,” he said
He acknowledged that there is fear around land back initiatives in Squamish and around the country, and said he hopes the task force process can “fill the gaps of understanding.”
The terms of reference are central to the Wa Iy̓ímtaSḵwx̱wú7mesh Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Squamish Nation and the District of Squamish announced July 22, last summer
That MOU grew from the WaIy̓ímta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Protocol Agreement, signed on July 17, 2023, according to the District’s Aja Peterson, projects and research coordinator, who presented the terms of reference at the meeting on Tuesday.
The Protocol Agreement outlines key principles for the two councils working together to advance reconciliation goals and shared work, the staff report notes.
According to Peterson, at the Squamish Nation council meeting on March 4, the Nation approved the task force’s terms of reference and appointed three members of its council to serve on the task force.
Those members are all from the Squamish Valley—Jonny Williams, Kalkalilh Deanna Lewis, and Is’gh’li-ya Anthony Joseph.
The task force thus includes three Squamish Nation councillors, three District councillors, and staff from both governments who will provide administrative and technical support throughout the project.
Recommendations from the task force will be brought to both councils for final approval.
In a theme repeated throughout the meeting, the District staff report to council also stresses that “land back” means publicly held lands, not private property.
“Land back does not mean removing people from privately owned property. Instead, the task force focuses on restoring Squamish Nation governance, stewardship, and cultural connection to lands currently under public jurisdiction,” the report reads.
Peterson said that “land back” is an intentional term.
“Land back is a reconciliation-driven initiative that acknowledges the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people,” she said, adding that it is about moving forward together, not about exclusion.
The task force has a deadline to complete its goals.
It will meet quarterly until 2028 or until the goals of the task force have been met.
The councillors chosen will remain on the task force until the end of the project or until they are no longer sitting council members.
Council members do not receive extra compensation for serving on the task force.
According to the draft terms of reference, examples of potential Land Back initiatives include:
•granting exclusive access to traditional cultural sites for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People
•exploring potential repatriation of culturally or economically significant lands
•co-managing parks and protected areas
•facilitating access to traditional harvesting sites
•restoring original place names
•ensuring Squamish Nation input into District leases on significant sites.
The document stresses that other potential initiatives may be identified through the
course of the project.
Glenday noted that part of the task force work will be engaging other levels of government, given that most public land in Squamish is Crown land, meaning belonging to the provincial or federal governments.
Next, the two governments will communicate more publicly about what is happening, and their first meeting will be scheduled.
Several times during the meeting it was stressed that public engagement is central to the task force’s work.
Peterson noted that many resources will be available on the District’s website, and that public learning opportunities will be offered at venues of both the Nation and the District, such as the Squamish Public Library or Totem Hall
Coun John French called the evening “exciting.”
“The task force has an important historical mission ahead,” he said.
He acknowledged he had received some “mixed” feedback about the task force from people around the province
“Many eyes are on Squamish tonight with this decision, and this recommendation and this motion,” he said.
“What I have discovered over the last couple of days, in going through the feedback that I have seen, is those who get what we are up to, they truly get it. Those who don’t, in my opinion, are mainly driven by fear, feelings of superiority, and a belief
LANDBACK: Continued on 3
LAND BACK: Continuedfrom2
that thereare no historical wrongs to be reconciled.I fullydisagreewiththat. There are wrongs to be corrected, andpartof what we aredoing tonightistakingthaton.”
He spokeabout theworkwiththe task forceseeming minimalcomparedtothe wrongs perpetrated.
“WhenIthink aboutmywhite European ancestorswho came here,claimed these lands andintroducedthe humanconstruct that we call privateproperty, the newcomerstothisplace then triedto assimilate Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people into European ways usingwhatIthink arecruel tactics,and many people agreewithmeon that,” he said
Coun.Stonernoted that thepublic narrativehas changedsince theB.C SupremeCourt’s landmark Cowichan Tribes v. Canada ruling last summer,which said that theCowichanhold Aboriginal title to landsonthe Fraser RiverinRichmond.
Shenoted that people have concerns giventhe uncertaintytheyfeel.
Thetaskforce andreconciliation does, shesaid, open up theopportunity for dialogue “for understanding, foreducation, learningand sharing.”
“And that is what ourcommunity does best,acrossbothSquamish residentsas well as the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people,” she said
“Weare allinthistogether, andweare trying to find ourway throughit. Iwould be lyingifI said we allknewthe answers, but …I thinkour council, ourstaff,our community—andIhaveheard this from
l y r n s tip story idea to:
Emailyournewstip or storyideato: jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca ipace@lodestarmedia.ca
On July 22, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (SquamishNation) andthe District of Squamish celebrated thesigning of aMemorandumofUnderstanding(MOU), with Nation andDistrictrepresentatives arrivingbycanoe to Oceanfront Squamish forthe ceremony.Thisset thegroundworkfor thecurrent Land Back TaskForce
theSquamishNation—this task forceis committed to transparency,toengagement, to research andsharedlearning; developing a frameworkthatwecan allfeelcomfortable with to move us forwardonastronger foundation,because we areall goingtobe here together no matter what.Wecan either battle it outincourt,orwecan buildstrong working relationshipsand move forward together,” shesaid.
Coun.EricAndersencalledserving on thetaskforce agreat privilegeand responsibility
“I am lookingforward to aprocess of explorationaswellasaneducational process,”hesaid, reiteratingthatother communitiesand agencies arewatching Squamish’sprocess.
TheDistrict’sbudgetfor theMOU priorities,including theLandBackTask
Force, is $90,000inthe 2026 FinancialPlan. In 2027 andbeyond, $15, 000willbe allocatedannuallywhile theworkcontinues ADistrictstaff member/project coordinator is devoting time to implementing theMOU priorities.Other staffinvolvedwillincorporate this work in theirgeneral work plans, accordingtoaDistrictspokesperson.
Squamish Nation wasnot able to provide a commentfor this storybypress deadline.
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
Fewer locals are operating illegal short-term rental units, at least as far as the municipality knows
An annual review of the District of Squamish short-term rental (STR) regulatory program was submitted in the agenda for the March 17th council meeting.
At that meeting, the report was not presented or discussed in depth, however Coun. Jenna Stoner put forward a motion that was supported by the rest of council that the report be brought back to a committee of the whole for deeper discussion and analysis.
The main point of Squamish regulations is to protect the long-term rental housing supply.
website was changed to say that TUP applications were no longer being accepted.
The report notes that the first group of temporary-use permits issued starting in 2021 will expire in 2026. District staff do not have capacity this year to do a bylaw and policy review of the program, the report to council states. That project is set for the Community Development Department’s 2027 work plan, with scoping for the project starting in the last part of this year
Until then, municipal staff planned to direct those with expiring TUPs to apply for a new one
This mention in the report was one of the reasons Stoner wants the council to have a fuller discussion.
Short-term rental activity appears to be easing in Squamish, with the District reporting about 210 vacation-rental units in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from roughly 250 a year earlier FILE
District staff did not recommend any major changes to the program for this year, given the long-term rental vacancy rate remains below 1%, and worsened between 2024 and 2025 to 0.2% in October of 2025.
Britannia Mine Museum gratefully acknowledgestheir community sponsors:
As a refresher, the rules for vacation, or short-term, rentals in Squamish are that a person who lives in their home can legally rent it out for periods of less than 90 days
Vacation rentals are not generally allowed in secondary suites or coach houses
The District offers up 30 temporary use permits for non-principal residences.
All short-term rental operators in Squamish must have a business licence and include their licence number in all online listings and advertising, or they may be subject to fines up to $3,000 per offence
The regulations seem to be working.
In the fourth quarter of 2025 there were about 210 short-term rental or vacation units in the District compared with about 250 in the fourth quarter of 2024. That’s a 16% decrease over the year
There is a 70 to 80% compliance range, meaning that some folks are operating their vacation rentals outside of the rules.
Staff acknowledges that enforcement was down in 2025 “due to a period of administrative staffing shortage in both the bylaw and building departments.”
There were eight public complaints about vacation rentals in 2025, compared to 28 in 2024, and 38 in 2023. In 2025, the municipality sent 86 warning letters to homeowners about compliance with short-term rental rules, while in 2024, 146 letters were sent.
Staff says there are currently 28 operators with temporary use permits (TUPs) for operating a short-term rental out of a non-principal residence
Because at one point in 2025 there were 30, which is the cap, the District’s
“Under the legislation, you technically can reapply for a TUP under a new application. It’s not generally our practice to do so. And I think that that’s worthy of some council deliberation as to whether that is the practice that we want to address,” she said.
She also noted that there had been late correspondence from Tourism Squamish that had not been available as part of the report that could be delved into
In supporting that motion, Coun. Chris Pettingill said part of the discussion at the committee could be whether the policies had returned units to the longer-term rental market, and the overall issue of affordability.
“A home can be a revenue generator, does that then raise the price and sort of force everyone to either do that or pay a very high price for a home?” he said.
“If there are any additional thoughts or new information about the push and pull there in terms of the affordability of a home, that may be useful for our next discussion.”
Licence fees for 2025 brought in $156,800 for the municipality.
That is enough revenue to cover the program, the staff report to council says, as it costs about $145,000 per year to implement.
The report notes that the third-party monitoring service, Granicus Host Compliance, that the municipality previously used has been cancelled for 2026 because the provincial government’s short-term rental data portal contains enough information for enforcement and compliance.
District staff did not recommend any major changes to the program for this year, given the long-term rental vacancy rate remains below 1% and worsened between 2024 and 2025 to 0.2% in October of 2025.
Thus, the regulation is still needed to encourage longer-term rentals over short-term ones.
The District is updating the rules on when it will defend
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
What happens if District staff or council members face legal action related to their work on the job?
That was the topic of discussion at the council meeting on March 17, when elected officials unanimously passed three readings of an indemnification bylaw update
“The purpose of an indemnification bylaw is to establish parameters for when the District will pay for and defend municipal officials, which is defined in the bylaw, from legal claims that may arise out of the performance of their duties or functions on behalf of the District This could include paying for legal defence costs, settlements, or judgments, or certain penalties related to official duties,” explained corporate officer Melissa von Bloedau.
“It does not allow for the District to pay
for a fine that results from a conviction where the official was at fault or had intent, and examples of this may be fraud or knowingly violating legislation.”
A new bylaw is required to align with legislative changes.
Once this new bylaw is adopted, it will repeal the previous indemnification bylaw from 1998.
While that original bylaw does provide indemnification, it does not reference the applicable sections of the provincial Local Government Act or Community Charter, and it doesn’t put limits on such indemnification.
Von Bloedau said the new bylaw will establish clear expectations for when the District must be notified that a legal matter has arisen and also sets limits on when municipal officials will not be indemnified under the bylaw, including in cases where there is a conviction for negligence or willful misconduct
The bylaw covers District officers, employees, and members of council, while they are working on behalf of the District Indemnification will be granted if the
person:
• promptly after being served with a claim, deliver a copy of it to the District’s corporate officer;
• does not admit or assume fault in connection with the claim, or enter into any settlement or resolution of the claim, without the prior approval of the District legal counsel;
• consents in writing to the District having sole discretion to appoint and instruct legal counsel, conduct all necessary investigations, to negotiate and settle the action of prosecution;
• cooperates fully in the defence of the claim, to the satisfaction of District legal counsel;
• assists in providing statements, documents and witnesses upon request, to the satisfaction of District legal counsel. The new bylaw puts limits on indemnification that allows for the District to waive it under certain circumstances such as when a court, tribunal or other investigating or regulatory agency finds the person has been:
malicious or wilful misconduct;
• wilfully acted contrary to the terms of their employment;
• wilfully acted contrary to the lawful direction or order given by a person in authority over the municipal official;
• libelled or slandered a person or persons;
• not met the duty to respect confidentiality;
• been disqualified from holding office
• been convicted of an offence that is not a strict or absolute liability.
Von Bloedau gave a couple of examples to help explain what would and wouldn’t be covered under the bylaw.
“A municipal official is convicted of knowingly falsifying records—so, in this situation, … the municipality cannot pay the fine,” she explained.
“However, council and the District do have discretion to pay some of the legal fees that may be associated in the determination of whether there was a conviction.” She gave another example
“A councillor is fined under an environ-
• guilty of dishonesty, gross negligence, INDEMNIFICATION: Continued from 7
LIZ MCDONALD emcdonad@lodestarmedia.ca
ASquamish parent is raising concerns about how School District 48 consulted families on proposed changes to the Don Ross Middle School calendar, arguing the process lacked clarity and transparency.
Terri-Lyn Campbell, who has two children in SD48, brought her concerns to the public school board meeting on March 11, focusing not on the calendar change itself, but on how feedback was gathered
“My intention tonight is not to revisit the specific details of the Don Ross proposal,” she told trustees “But rather reflect on the consultation process itself.”
The proposed three-year calendar included early dismissal at 12:35 p.m. on Fridays, with optional afternoon programming such as clubs, sports and tutoring. Students would be responsible for arranging their own transportation home
Campbell said decisions like these carry real impacts for families.
“Changes to the structure of the school week affect transportation, child care, even at the middle school level, student safety,” she said, adding the proposal could affect more than 1,000 students and families over three years.
She questioned whether the district fully followed its own Policy 601 on school calendar development, which requires consultation with staff, parent advisory councils and community partners before proposals reach the board.
“Based on the information available to parents it was very difficult for me to understand how the consultation requirements were being carried out,” she said.
Campbell said families were given limited information about the rationale behind the Friday dismissal change, how it would improve educational outcomes, and what alternatives had been considered.
As a result, she said, some parents may have been asked to provide feedback without enough context to do so meaningfully.
“When consultation processes lack clari-
ty or context, it can unintentionally limit whose voices are able to participate effectively,” she said.
In a letter to the board ahead of her presentation, Campbell said robust consultation is essential to good governance and informed decision-making.
“My intention … would be to contribute constructively to a discussion about the importance of thoughtful, transparent and equitable consultation,” she wrote.
The issue also gained traction online In a Facebook post, Campbell warned families may not be aware of the proposed change and its implications, including early bus departures and optional supervision for students staying on site
On March 7, one day after public feedback closed on the draft calendar, Don Ross principal Graham Jackson informed families that the school would keep its current Friday schedule for next year, with 2 p.m. dismissal time. On March 13, Jackson also communicated the decision in a school newsletter published online Trustees thanked Campbell for her presentation and acknowledged there may be room to improve how consultation is carried out and communicated
“I don’t often hear from parents with such thoughtful feedback,” trustee Rebecca Barley said, adding the board would look at ways to improve transparency.
Continuedfrom5
Presentcouncil members vote in favour of theindemnificationbylaw at itsmeeting on March17.
mental statutefor an inadvertent regulatory breach despiteactingresponsibly. So,there’sanother fine issued in this case Therewasn’t intent, so the municipality maypay the fine,” she said.
The keyisthat employees are“acting in good faith,” she said.
Coun. Andrew Hamilton putforward a motion in supportofthe bylawwith the amendment that the chief financial officer (CFO) be addedtothe new bylawwhere it says “reasonable legalcosts and reasonable out-of-pocketcosts [willbepaid]as determinedbythe chief administrative officer (CAO).
Thus, the CAOand CFOwould be the decidersonthataspect.
He said he wasproposing this to ensure thereisasober second setofeyes.
“This is not aboutour CAO. Thisisabout powerdynamics that getset up within councils and betweenthe CAObecause the CAOcan be putinapositionwhere theyare underminedbytheir counciland aCAO canundermine their council.That power dynamic canhappenand I’mreflectinghereonwhether this cancontribute to that powerdynamic in apotential sticky,sticky situation.”
Council unanimously passed thethree readings of the bylawwith the amendment.
In voicinghis supportfor thenew bylaw, with the amendment, Hamilton said indemnification wasn’t somethinghecame into politics thinkingabout.
“Likesomanythings in my first term here on council, you didn’treallyreflect on howimportantthesethings areuntil you read it in the bylawand think aboutallof the ways that things cangosideways for all kinds of variousreasons.And Ithink it’s
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby giveninaccordance with section345 of theLocal GovernmentAct and sections 86 &94ofthe Community Charterthatthe Squamish-LillooetRegionalDistrict(the “SLRD”) Boardhas proposed anew bylaw: SLRD Squamish ValleyAgriculturalPlanService Establishing BylawNo. 1946-2026 (the “Bylaw”).The participatingareas of theBylaw areDistrict of Squamish andElectoral Area D(the“ServiceArea”)
Thepurpose of theBylaw is to authorizethe SLRD to requisitionfunds to support agricultural planning,coordination, andimplementationactivitiesthatalignwiththe objectives of the Squamish ValleyAgriculturalPlan, whethersuchactivitiesare undertaken by SLRD,Districtof Squamish, external organization(s)ora combinationthereof (the “Service”)
TheBylaw authorizes theSLRDtorequisition annually up to thegreater of $75,000 or $0.00483 per $1,000 of nettaxable assessedvalue of land andimprovements in theService Area (not includingthe provincial feeapplicable to ElectoralAreaD). Thecostofthe Serviceisborne by alltaxable properties in theService Area
Some maximumannualrequisition scenariosfor residentialpropertiesare notedbelow (Scenarios fornon-residential properties have notbeen developedbecause of thevarious tax ratesfor differentpropertyclasses.)
ForDistrictofSquamish, theestimated taxation cost per$1,000,000ofconvertedresidential assessedvalue of land &improvementsis$3.85. This estimate is basedonthe 2026 Completed AssessmentRolland assumesa 10%residential property classtaxationrate. Some residential propertyvalue scenariosfor District of Squamish arebelow:
Scenariosfor DistrictofSquamish
importantthatwehaveabylaw that helps us and supports employees and councillors in the eventthat…under the honest carrying outoftheir duties,theyhappen to fall into somekind of legaldispute,” he said
“And then,iftheyare guilty of those offences,thattheyare held to account. I think it’s importantthatwehavethat, and Iabsolutelyrecognizeit’sdifficulttodefine thosethings,and that’s whywe’re heretonight,and Ithinkthis bylawdoesapretty good jobofdefiningthem as best we can.”
In voicingsupportfor the bylaw, Coun. JennaStoner stressed that District indemnification wasn’t new.
“I think it’s importanttonotethatthis is notnecessarily new indemnificationthat we’re providingtocouncil and staff.It’s an update to abylaw that it wasoriginally writtenin1998 and brings it …uptomore modern standards and reflectsthe current wordinginthe LocalGovernmentAct and theCommunityCharter.SoIthinkthis is justgoodprudence on ourparttomake sure that ourbylawsare up to date and reflectiveofcurrent practices.”
MayorArmand Hurfordnoted that the public shouldn’t seethe bylawasprotecting peoplefromillegalactions.
“I think it’s importantfor folkstounderstand thatthis isn’tabout creatingashield for elected officials who have done somethingthatisoffside or,inthis case,illegal,” he said
“It’saboutensuringthattheseseats are and theseroles arereasonablethings that people couldbeexpectedtoparticipatein. And Ithink without thereasonableprotections that thisprovides,Iwould have a veryhardtime sittingintheseseats.”
Coun. Lauren Greenlaw wasnot in attendance at thismeeting.
Adoption of the bylawisscheduled for the next regularcouncil meeting.
ForElectoral Area D, theestimated taxationcost per$1,000,000 of convertedresidential assessedvalue of land &improvementsis$3.85 (consistentwithDistrictofSquamishasnoted above), butontop of this is the5.25% feecharged by theProvincefor collectingelectoral area taxes. Therefore, includingthe provincial fee, theestimated cost per$1,000,000 of converted residentialassessedvalue of land &improvements increasesfrom$3.85 to $4.05. Some residentialpropertyvalue scenariosfor ElectoralAreaD (including theprovincialfee) arebelow:
Scenariosfor ElectoralAreaD (including provincial fee)
Averagevalue of residentialproperty Estimatedannualresidential taxrequisition
$1,000,000 $4.05
TheSLRDBoard is seekingparticipating area approval of electors in theService Area by wayof AlternativeApproval Process(“AAP”).The numberofeligible electors in theService Area hasbeen determinedtobe22,976 andthe numberofelector responsesrequiredtoprevent theSLRD Boardfromproceedingwithout thefurther assent of theelectorsis2,297. Thedeadlinefor electorresponses forthisAAP is 4:30 p.m. on April27, 2026 TheSLRDBoard mayproceed with theBylaw unless, by thedeadlinestatedabove,atleast 10%(being2,297) of theelectorsof theService Area indicate that theSLRDBoard must obtain approval by assent vote (referendum) Electorresponses must be submittedinthe form establishedbythe SLRD Board. Electorresponse forms areavailableonthe SLRD website(www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/current-projectsinitiatives/new-SVAP-service), at theSLRDoffice (1350 AsterSt.,Pemberton BC)and at District of SquamishMunicipalHall(37955 Second Ave.,SquamishBC).The only personsentitledtosignthe forms areelectorsofthe ServiceArea.
Formoreinformation aboutResidentElector andNon-Resident Property Electorqualificationsaswellasthe AAP, please seethe SLRD website(www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/current-projects-initiatives/newSVAP-service) or contactCorporateOfficer A. Belshamat(604) 8946371(ext. 240) or abelsham@slrd.bc.ca
View this ad online:
Weasked,youanswered.
TheDistrictinvitedtheNorthYards neighbourhoodtoshareinputonhowthe siteisusedandwhatresidentsvalueforthe futurepark.Viewtheengagementresults:
LetsTalkSquamish.ca/northyards
ThesiteisundergoingaProvincial archaeologystudywhichisrequired beforeconstructioncanbegin.
Eleven danger trees and invasivespecies(blackberry) arescheduled forremovalfromNorth YardsPark between March30and April10, 2026.
An environmental consultantwill be on siteto assess forbirdnesting in accordancewith environmental best practices.Whereno activenests areidentified,the danger trees will be removed.
at The55ActivityCentre
Explorethe wide range of classes on offer to stayfitthis spring!
Many classes offer drop-ins,perfect to tryout asingle session to find what’s rightfor you:
•20/20/20 (low-impactcardio, core work,and stretching)
•Balance&Posture
•Chair Fit
•DanceFitness
•HealthyBones &Joints –Chair
•Hip/Knee and/or Shoulder/ Hand recovery exercises
•Men on the Move
•Reduced MobilityMovements
•Strength &Balance
•Strong Body
•Tai Chi-inspired Flow or Seated
•X̱ wúneḵwPark SeaDike upgrades continue,with intermittentnightworks ongoing.
•Wastewater system upgrades areunderwayalong parts of Madill Street,Garibaldi Avenue,Britannia Avenue and Buckley Avenue,replacing an aging sanitaryforcemain. Please be awarethatsinglelane alternating traffic willbeineffectwhile work takes placefrom7a.m. to 6p.m.
•VictoriaStreet ActiveTransportation Upgrades will be resuming shortly.
squamish.ca/building-our-future
Request for Proposals
•Recreation FacilityNeeds,Demand, and SiteAssessment
•BrennanParkAquatic Centre Pool Deck Upgrades
Request forQuotations
•Annual Road Line Painting
Request forSupplier Qualifications
• Paradise Valley Bailey Bridge AbutmentConstruction squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district
gn up forRecreation eNews squamish.ca/enews
Areminder thattotes must be curbside at 7:15 a.m. on collection day to guarantee servicing.This permanentchange came into effectonJanuary1,2026.
Required
Agentle reminder thatParks crewswill be conducting annual grounds maintenanceofMount Garibaldi Cemetery. Please remove anyartificial plants,flowers and ornamentation (suchasstatues, angelsand loose objects such as rocks,glass or metal items)fromthe gravemarker by March31.
Anyitems not removedbyMarch 31, will be placed at the main gatesfor twoweeks
Pleasebeaware thatconstruction work forthe cemeteryexpansion is ongoing.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Getready forexciting summer adventures! Choose from a varietyofaction-packed summer camps or get activeand meet new people in one of our fun fitness classes Explorethe programs online starting April7,with registration opening on April14.
Please be awareof upcoming changes to the pool schedule
More family pool time will be added on Fridays from ApriltoJune. Forthe details and full schedule head to squamish.ca/pool
GOOD FRIDAY,APRIL 3
9 am–3 pm
SATURDAY,APRIL 4
&SUNDAY,APRIL 5
Programs run as usual
EASTER MONDAY,APRIL 6
9 am–3 pm
The 55 ActivityCentrewill be closedApril 3–6.
Checkout the arena andpool schedules!
District says forecast is conservative as staffing plans take shape
LIZ MCDONALD emcdonald@lodestarmedia.ca
School District 48 is projecting a drop in student enrolment next year, with the steepest decline expected in online learning.
A district enrolment projection presented to trustees March 11 shows total funded full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolment is forecast at 5,093.9375 for 2026-27, down from 5,408.4375 in the fall 2025 claim—a decrease of 314.5 FTE, or about 6%.
That decline is not evenly felt across the system
The number of students in physical classrooms is projected to dip more modestly,
from 5,118 to 5,034, a decline of 84 students, or 2%.
The largest drop is concentrated in Sea to Sky Online School, where enrolment is projected to fall from 547 to 388 students—a 29% decrease
Secretary treasurer Danielle Haverstock said the SD#48 submits enrolment projections to the Ministry of Education and Child Care each year, which are then used to calculate initial grant funding for the upcoming school year.
The projections combine several layers of forecasting. A demographer, Baragar, produces a baseline projection using birth trends and historical enrolment data School principals then submit their own estimates, which are further adjusted by the
district based on current registrations and local conditions.
“We take the actual registrations at the schools as well as Baragar, and we slightly adjust them,” Haverstock said.
The document distinguishes between headcount—the number of students—and full-time equivalent (FTE), which is used to determine provincial funding. The district is funded based on FTE, not simple enrolment totals
Despite the projected decline, Haverstock said the district is intentionally taking a cautious approach
“We are very conservative with our projection,” she said. “There’ll probably be more students coming in.”
Some of the projected decrease may be tied to larger graduating cohorts in Grade 12, while kindergarten numbers may still be understated as registration continues
“There are some bubbles in Grade 12,” she said. “And then I think for some of the kindergarten, they’re also understated so it’s a combination of that.”
The projections are also used to guide staffing decisions for the fall, meaning the district plans conservatively in case enrol-
ment comes in lower than expected.
“We use these numbers to do our staffing for the fall,” Haverstock said. “Three hundred students is a lot for us, so hopefully that doesn’t come to fruition, but we are being very conservative, and we’re just planning for that in case it does.”
Across the corridor, enrolment changes vary by community.
Pemberton is projected to see a slight decline, from 759 to 745 students (-2%), while Squamish remains relatively stable, dipping from 3,316 to 3,283 (-1%). Whistler is expected to see the largest regional decrease, falling from 1,043 to 1,006 students (-4%).
At the school level, the picture is mixed Mamquam Elementary is projected to grow from 280 to 305 students (+9%), one of the few schools seeing notable increases Meanwhile, Myrtle Philip Community School is expected to decline from 327 to 299 students (-9%), and Don Ross Middle School from 751 to 726 (-3%).
Final funding will be adjusted after the official Sept. 30 enrolment count, known as the 1701 snapshot, is submitted to the ministry.
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Actfast.
Thatisthe advice ofa watersubmersion expertinthe wake of four people beingrescued recentlyafter their vehicle went off Squamish ValleyRoadintowater
Retired professorGordon Giesbrecht, from the University of Manitoba, hasstudiedprevention of vehicle submersion deaths.
As locals knowwell, we have alot of waterand vehicles goingintoitalongSquamish ValleyRoadisnot aone-off.
A 24-year-old Surrey manwentmissing afterthe vehiclehewas in went off the road and into the Squamish RiverlastJune.
Three occupantsgot out, butthe oneman did not.
So,whatshould people do if theyfind themselves in thesame situation—inavehicle that hascrashedinto water?
Giesbrecht said time is of the essence
If your vehicle is in water, do not panic,donot touch yourcell phone and rememberSWOC, he says
•Seatbelts off •Windowsopenorbroken
•Out immediately
•Children first (oldest to youngest)
Asinkingvehicle mayfloatonthe surface for up to threeminutes,but occupantsonlyhaveone minuteto getout safely, he stresses.
And contrary to what folksmight think,electricwindows will still work in water. The electric components will continue for agoodwhile.Infact,rescuersoften find submergedvehiclesbecause their headlights or taillights remain on, he says
In NorthAmerica, about400 people peryeardie in vehiclesthatgounder in the water. These make up between5-11% of all drownings, accordingtothe Facultyof Kinesiologyand Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba.
Giesbrecht says that thereare alot of misnomers around what to do in thissituation that he hasstudied and debunked,suchasthatitis best to stay in thevehicle until it fills with watertoequalizethe pressure, andthen you canopenthe door
“The problemisbythe time that happens,you’re dead,”he said,addingit takes awhile for it to fill up.
Otherrumoured options likeusing high-heeledshoes or the headrest of the vehicle arehardtodoinreality, Giesbrecht said.
“Wehavehad bigguys …tryingtokickawindowopen, and we’veactuallybentthe door without openingthe window,”hesaid, adding that manufacturersnow put laminateonwindows, meaningtheycan crackbut not break.
If it is the onlyoption, hitthe bottom corner of the windowthat’s closest to ahinge,hesaid.
Foronlookers,calling911, then yelling at victims in the watertoopentheir windows,and if in standing water, tryingtobreak the carwindows with arockorother implementare mosthelpful
Ifsafe,bystanderscan alsohelp push avehicle from deeper water to shallow,but onlyifnot rushing water.
Ideally, younever getinthis situation, butifyou do,act fastand rememberSWOC.
least; pedestrians,onthe other hand, may have their lives altered forever if they arenot killedoutright
In many respects,fault is irrelevant becausethe pedestrianalwaysloses againsta vehicle.
We’rejustoverhalfwaythrough March, andifyou’rea pedestrian, theroadsafety headlines already read likesome sort of modern-day apocalypse.
Maple Ridge—91-year-old manonmobility scooterfatallystruck; Richmond—pedestrianstruckcausing significant traffic delays;Quesnel—34-year-old pedestrianhit and killedbypickuptruck;Coquitlam—pedestrianstruckincrosswalk by SUV, which fledscene; Langford—pedestriansuffers life-threateninginjuries afterbeingstruckin busy intersection.
In Squamish,weare no stranger to pedestrianclosecalls andcrashesourselves.ICBC statsshow16suchcrashes between2020 and 2024.
Pedestrians have theright to feel safe on ourroads andsidewalks, yetthesetypes of collisions remain adisturbingrealityon island roadways.
As adriver, you bear the greateramountof responsibility. Youare the one propellinga 2,000-kilogram objectthrough busy streets. In apedestriancollision, the carsuffersthe
So let’s stop worryingabout fault for a moment. Cominghomesafe each dayisthe goal, fullstop. It’s vital then that pedestrians takepractical stepsto protectthemselves
Afew simple habits candramatically reduce theriskofbeingstruck.
The first and mostimportantruleisdeceptivelysimple: payattention. Distraction is no longerjusta driver problem.Icringeat leastonce aday on my journeys, watching pedestrians absorbed in their phones,texting, scrolling, or wearingnoise-cancelling headphones -often oblivious to thevehicle approachingfrombehind.
When crossing astreet, putthe phone away,lookup, and activelyscanfor traffic in everydirection.
Next,cross whereyou’reexpectedtobe from thepointofview of adriver. Marked crosswalksand intersections aredesigned to make pedestrianmovementpredictable. Driversapproachingintersections arefar morelikelyto anticipatesomeone crossing therethansomeone steppingintothe road
(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)
DRIVING: Continued from 10
mid-block.
Even when using a marked crosswalk, never assume drivers will stop for you automatically. Try to make eye contact with approaching drivers if possible and wait until traffic clearly yields before stepping out. Never, never assume that because the car in one lane has stopped for you that the car in the lane next door is also going to stop.
Visibility also plays a crucial role. Many serious pedestrian collisions occur in low-light conditions during early morning or evening hours.
Bright reflective clothing, or at least a flashlight, is your best friend. A driver’s headlights can illuminate reflective material from hundreds of metres away, while dark clothing can make a pedestrian almost invisible until it’s too late
Back on a dark January night, I came off the Pat Bay Highway at the Royal Oak off-ramp. As soon as I veered off, my headlights picked up a pedestrian at a bus stop about 250 metres away, wearing the brightest, most reflective jacket I have ever seen. I wished I could have handed out
some sort of award.
Pedestrians need to be equally cautious around turning vehicles. Many drivers focus on traffic coming from one direction and too often overlook someone stepping into a crosswalk from the other side
Even if you have the walk signal, take a moment to check whether a vehicle is about to turn into your path And this includes looking behind you for drivers turning right at an intersection.
Another overlooked risk I see often happens in parking lots and driveways Drivers reversing out of parking spaces often have limited visibility and may rely heavily on just their mirrors or cameras Trying to scoot past a reversing vehicle is dangerous. It’s better to give that vehicle extra space and make sure the driver sees you first
It’s spring, so the weather is unpredictable and deserves extra attention.
Rain, fog, and snow obviously reduce visibility and dramatically increase the braking distance for vehicles Pedestrians need to think in terms of giving vehicles extra time and
distance before stopping.
Children and older adults face particular risks. Kids are unpredictable, while elders need more time to cross safely. It’s up to the rest of us to help by teaching children road awareness early in life and supporting safer street design, which gives pedestrians adequate crossing time
Finally, as a pedestrian, work on sharpening your road safety instincts If a situation feels unsafe—traffic moving too fast, distracted drivers, or bad visibility - wait for a better moment to cross.
Pedestrian safety ultimately depends on shared responsibility Drivers must remain vigilant and respectful of all vulnerable road users. But pedestrians who stay alert, visible and predictable dramatically improve their own safety.
On today’s busy roads, looking both ways isn’t just an old lesson from childhood—it remains one of the most powerful safety habits ever.
John Ducker is a retired deputy chief of the Victoria Police Department, who served on the force for more than three decades
Got a photo to share? Do like Loretta and send it in to jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
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TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK
This week, reporter Liz McDonald got outside in the rain for a video about the wild weather we have been having. Check it out on our TikTok channel, @squamishchief
A huge bouquet of volleyball-shaped daffodils to Nesters Market for supplying us with all the food for our barbecue fundraiser. Thank you for always helping our community members reach their goals. Your generosity helped our team get closer to our U16 girls volleyball team goal of going to nationals in May.
Got something nice to say or some constructive criticism? Send your Darts & Daffodils: Email: news@squamishchief.com or drop off at The Chief office (38117 Second Ave.) during business hours. Deadline for submissions is Monday at 4 p.m. for Thursday’s paper. All submissions must be signed and include a phone number for verification. Maximum length is 75 words. Darts are intended to be an anonymous critique between private parties Darts must not directly or indirectly identify an individual or business.
WILL JOHNSON
For The Squamish Chief
They knew going in that they had the opportunity to make history.
When the Squamish Eagles U13 team travelled to provincial championships in Powell River last week, the players were well aware that they were positioned to be the first team in the association’s history to take the top spot—and they were determined to do exactly that.
“We spoke about it at the beginning of the season, we talked about it mid-season and we talked about it going into provincial championships Our director of hockey operations Jordan McCarl spoke with our players about it so they were well aware of what was at stake and they managed to pull through at the right time,” coach Mike Borrelli told The Squamish Chief
The players weathered the pressure, and ended up defying expectations
“We ended up playing the Arbutus Club in the finals for the goal medal, which is a team we’ve played throughout the season. The game was definitely close, it was back and forth battle all game and I felt our team dominated the five on five play and carried most of the game,” he said.
“We went into overtime and about seven minutes into overtime we were able to pull out the win with a 4-3 victory.”
It was an incredible experience for the players, who started off their season with compromised ice time. Despite that setback, they barrelled through the season with win after win. Now they’ll go down in history as the first team to ever take the top sport.
“It was obviously an incredible experience for the players, for the coaching staff and for the families who attended.”
Borrelli was pleased with how the players supported each other throughout
“It was a whole team effort all week long. The team was dialed in and the players were working extremely hard on everything we worked on for team tactics, in regards to our special teams like power play and penalty kill. They really came together that week.”
A few players stood out.
“We had some massive contributions from our second year players, Shea Elesko and Malin Lewin-Schorz, Liam Scarlett , Spencer Bickerton, Eli Taylor and our captain Duncan Mcinnes. Those players really led the charge,” he said.
Goaltender Sam Roberge also gave a game-winning performance
“We remained undefeated all year long in tournament play We attended three other tournaments and ended up finishing 23-0 in our tournament play Four goal medals including that provincial banner Our team was just built to win.”
It was a special year all around.
Three Squamish Eagles teams qualified for provincials, something that hasn’t ever happened before in the teams’ history: the U-18 A1 and U-18 A2 also made the provincials.
DELIVERY DAY: Another Woodfibre LNG module has arrived on site The company says this brings the under-construction export facility to 65% complete The latest delivery of the powerhouse module—the 16th of 19 modules—arrived by ship on March 17, a week after the last liquefaction component
Jasper Flemingisonly20, butthe Squamish biathletehas alreadychecked offamilestone many athletes chasefor years: an Olympicstart
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@lodestarmedia.ca
While many youngadults are still figuringout what they want to do with their lives,Squamish biathleteJasperFleming, 20, just made his Olympic debutatMilano Cortina2026
At the Olympics,hecompetedinthe men’s 4x7.5 km relay(placing17th), the mixed4x6 km relay(17th), the men’s20 km Individual (86th), andthe 10 km sprint (80th).
The Squamish Chiefcaughtupwith Flemingfor achatabout his first Olympic experience,his knitting,and howhestays grounded as ayoung eliteathlete. What followsisa version of that conversation edited for length and clarity.
TheSquamish Chief: Let’stalkabout the Olympics competition.It isamazing just to go,but howdid youfeelyou didathletically?
Jasper Fleming: In biathlon, we race in the WorldCup circuit for the whole year.Soina non-Olympic year,wehaveabout 30 World
Cups aseason, likeindividual races spread overninevenues. So,the competition wasn’t that much different. Oneofthe main differences, though, I’dsay,isthat people arejustpeaking so much harder
And that brings me to my nextpoint where it’s likeI’m only20years old and biathlon’salatematuritysport.Iwas one of theyoungestpeople competinginbiathlon, period.And to be expectedtowin medals at 20 yearsold would be totally unreasonable
Icame to the Olympics knowing that I just wanted to go forthe experience and try to have my personal best races,likeatop 40. And to be honest,Idon’t think Ireally performedatthe levelI wassupposed to.
My skiing wasOK, butmyshootingjust nevercame together,whichisreallywhat held me back
That is atakeaway, IguessIwould say, is justdealing with that pressure. And obviously, WorldCups areverysimilar,but it’s theOlympics,you know? Like youhavethe Olympic ringsright on yourchest,yourfamilyissomewhereinthe stands,and so at the end of the day, it kind of gottomealittle bit
always goingtobespecial. ButI think that just this opportunityfor me to go therewas incredibleinitself.
Q: This Olympics, it wasnicetosee alot of talk aboutmental health, especially after the U.S. skater,Ilia Malinin, who was expected to win gold, fumbled his free program performance. Obviously,the pressure gotintohis head. What did youlearn about the mental partofthe Olympics?
A: Well, this is probably oneofthe hardest thingsfor an athletetodealwith. Iwould saylearning, becauseyou do asport to perform, andatthe end of the day, all the people that care aboutisyourperformance.
Therealityis, we train 25 to 30 hoursa week.You essentiallygiveyourwhole life to thesecoupleofoccasions ayearwhere you have to perform, and if it doesn’t work out, of course it’s goingtofeel[bad]. Idon’t think there’sany denyingthe fact that you’re allowedtofeelthat.
Butatthe same time,at leastmybelief is that at the end of the day, if it ruinsyour dayoritruins your week becauseyou had abad race,I think you’re in it for the wrong
ButIhavethe experience under my belt now, so thenextGames shouldn’t be quite as bigofashock.Imean, obviously,they’re JASPER: Continued on 14
PHOTOCOURTESYJASPERFLEMING/BENITAPEIFFER Jasper FleminginOlympic pre-camp,right before theGames
JASPER: Continuedfrom13
The publicisinvited to review andcomment on the BC Timber Sales Chinook –SquamishField Team (BCTSDSQ) Forest Operations MapID2978, showing proposed road construction and cut block development under Forest Stewardship Plan #941 within Forest DevelopmentUnits in the SeatoSky Resource District. This mapwill bevalid forthe operatingperiodfrom April1,2026 –March 31, 2029.During the operating period, the Timber Sales Manager mayinviteapplications forTimberSale Licenses forthe harvestingofcut blocks shown on the map and applyfor road permits to constructroads shownonthe map
Themap is available forpublic reviewand comment online,at: fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects and by searching 2978 as the FOM Number under the“find”function.
Themap is also available forin-person reviewand commentbyappointment at theBCTSDSQ office, MondaytoFridayfrom8:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at: BC Timber SalesChinook –Squamish 101-42000Loggers Lane, Squamish,B.C., V8B O8H
Comments will be accepted between April 1–April30, 2026.Comments maybesubmitted online at fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects,emailed to BCTS.Squamish@gov.bc.ca,delivered in person at the address above duringbusinesshours,or mailedtothe address above to the attentionofthe BCTS Squamish PlanningDepartment.
If you have questions or require assistance, please email BCTS.Squamish@gov.bc.ca
reason.
The journeyhas to be just as gratifyingas theresult, becauseyou have to be in it for the rightreason.
Idobiathlon for the simplestreason. I love doingit. Igototrainingevery day, excited becauseit’ssomethingIjustlove doing, and Idon’tthink there’sany other reason that I’dbeinitfor Ithink that’s the mindset that allowed me to gethereatsuchayoung age—I’m in itfor that reason.
Ithink that you have to be happyfirstand foremost, and there’salot that goes into that, and it’s not just performance-related
Q: What aresomeof the thingsthatviewersdon’t seethatmay be surprising in termsofthe wholeOlympic experience— the village, or however youwant to tackle thequestion?
A: The scalethat it was. Biathlon World Cups aremassive.There’snodoubt about it.Wecan getbetween 20,000 to 40,000 spectators in person. It is European culture at its finest.
Butthen goingtothe Olympics,all of a sudden youhavesomanyjournalists,and there’ssecurityupthe yin-yang.You have helicoptersflyingoveryourhead24-7.
There’sfighterjets.Itwas non-stop. I wouldsay the security wasone thing. There’snon-stop police escorts everywhere yougo.
There’sapolice carinfront and behind you.It’svery, maybedramatic wouldbethe rightway to putit. Butatthe same time,the biathlon wasunique in that we were the onlysport in ourvillage. We were asatellite village. Iwas expectingittobesuper bustling. We went to Cortinafor the opening ceremonies,and that wasthe Olympic experience that Iwas expecting. Youget to chat with peoplefromall over the world. Youget to do pin tradingand stuff likethat. And that wassuper cool.
In ourvillage, Rasun-Anterselva/ Rasen-Antholz,itwas so quiet.Atthe bottom of the village,obviously,you have the security.Something’sgoing on, youcan tell
And there’sOlympic brandingeverywhere, buttherewas just not awhole lotof energy or buzz to the town.But Ithinkthat it gave us the opportunity to stay safe from sickness, and really focusonthe events
Q: What about the food?How wasthat?
A: We go on aset menu,soevery week theywould cyclethrough certain options. Youhaveeither your meat, potato,oryour carbs, your veggies,yourprotein,It’spretty standard. Oneweirdthingistheyhad octopusevery week.I don’t knowwhatwas up with that.
Another thingthat wascoolwas the cafeteriawas open 24-7. Oh,wedid get Olympic ring pastaone night, and that wascool—like,itwas literallythe Olympic rings-shaped pasta.
Q: Youshowedyourself knittingonInsta-
gram. Whendid you takeupknitting?
A: Actually, it wasmycoach [Helene Jørgensen] who gotusintoit. Sheisfrom Norway.BackinOslo, she went and bought everyone on the teamknittingsupplies Sheboughtuswool, she bought us needles,and then we startedathingcalled KnittingClub.Soonce or twice aweek, we would all gettogether and we hadaproject that she would teachus. The first thingwe did wasslippers.
Then the Olympics,and my teammate Adam [Runnalls] posted avideoonInstagram,and it gotmillions of views,and all of asuddenhegot 40,000 followers,and Iwas like, holy smokes,maybe Ishould startthat too? Then Adam and Iwould knit together in ourroomalone all the time, and make little videos.
And Iactuallyjustfinishedasweater vest last night, whichIwas pretty happywith I’mgoingtoblock it now. [Blockingiswhen the garmentiswettedand driedintoits final shape.]I knittedrainbow mitts before Christmas, whichIwas superproud of.That wasmyfirstbig project.
Q: So next Olympics that yougoto, what areacouple of the tools in your toolkit that maybe youdidn’t have beforethat youwill pullout?
A: Ithink it’s just knowing what to expect and knowing the groundworkofthe whole event.
And then also, I’ll be 24 at the nextOlympics,and that’s kind of whereI’m hopingto perform. Twenty-four is kind of apeakin biathlon. It wouldn’t be uncommon if Iwere to getamedal there.
Alsoanother thingthat maybeIforgotto describe, is the fact that Iwasn’t even representingCanadaatthe last Olympic Games in 2022. Imissedthe qualification by likea second to race at Youth Worlds.And so for yearstogofromnot representingCanadato the Olympics is huge.
Butother people have been on the World Cupcircuit foreight,10, 12 yearsbefore that. And so theyknowhow four-yearcycles aresupposed to work.And Iwould saythat nowthat I’ve gone to one Olympic Games and Iknowthat the nextOlympic Games arewhat Iwanttoprioritize, Iknowhow to better preparemyself
And Ithink that I’mmorecapable of preparingmyself forafour-year cycle. That would mean trainingwould look alittle bit morespecifiedthroughout the year.It’ll kind of [ramp] up as I’mprogressing Ithink that as Iget through that four-year cycle, I’ll just getbetterand better at prioritizingwhat reallymatters and peakingfor certain events.
And that’s kind of what Ithink will benefit me the most.
Flemingiscurrentlycompetinginthe 2026 Biathlon NationalsinCanmore,which runs until March29.
Reporter’s note: Stay tunedfor Q&As with the other first-time Squamish Olympians.
Try-it days for adaptive sports were held for a week across three different Squamish elementary schools, teaching hands-on experience and empathy
INA PACE
ipace@lodestarmedia.ca
Empathy isn’t something that can usually be taught in a classroom
Lived experience can carry far greater lessons
For the week beginning March 9, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) and Whistler Sport Legacies (WSL) collaborated with Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) to coordinate adaptive sports try-it days across three different Squamish elementary schools: Squamish Elementary, Brackendale Elementary, and Garibaldi Highlands Elementary.
“More and more every year are attending Whistler Sport Legacies’ summer camps with all different physical abilities or cognitive disabilities. So we are just exposing more community members to adaptive sports so everyone can enjoy them,” WSL sport development manager Tami Mitchell said.
The initiative aligned with the 2026 Winter Paralympics, and was designed to give students hands-on experience as paralympian athletes, using various paralympian devices. It is grant-funded by the Squamish Community Foundation, according to SSCS manager of child and youth development Alyssa Morris.
The Squamish Chief went to watch four classes of students in action at Garibaldi Elementary on March 12, and met with Mitchell and Morris
“We’re really hoping to build awareness and understanding, and empathy for kids in our community, for people who have to use all sorts of adaptive equipment,” Morris said.
“We really want to make sure our schools feel inclusive and supported. That’s what we’re hoping happens today.”
The students were divided into groups, who were each assigned one of four stations in the gymnasium that hosted a different paralympic sport or activity.
After completing each activity, each group would rotate so that every group could try one of each of the four activi-
ties.
Students participated in seated volleyball, sledge hockey, and wheelchair basketball.
“It just takes a few minutes for them to figure out how to manoeuvre the chair in circles, going backwards, going forwards. And they’re learning a lot, they’re learning a lot about themselves as well,” Mitchell said.
Another station hosted blind skiing, which involved students working in pairs: one student would be blindfolded and guided by another student who uttered prompts into a microphone: “left, right, turn 90 degrees,’ etc.
This Squamish Chief reporter was blindfolded at that station, and navigated by one of the children around coloured cones.
“You can only imagine what it might feel like when you’re flying down the slopes, anticipating what’s to come That person has to put all their trust in you,” said WASP’s Squamish coach Jennifer Brown, who supervised the blind ski
Thesocial director andbest friendwho conveysa senseof optimism.Lylehas really cool markings includingtwo different coloredfront legs anda unique stripe of whitearoundhis all-black tail
station.
“We definitely see a spike in interest in our programs when big sporting events [like] the Paralympics are on TV. There’s nothing like seeing something you could participate in, and being motivated to do that.”
Morris explained there was a classroom session on the try-it days for each group of students before they entered the gymnasium The class would discuss what having a disability means, share relatable experiences and what they hoped to learn in trying adaptive devices, or adopting new approaches to sport.
According to Mitchell, WSL, WASP and SSCS will visit Myrtle Phillip Community School in Whistler in April.
“Any school that wants an adaptive day can reach out to one of our organizations,” she said.
Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief’s Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter
This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada
Lyle lived with many;manycats, andheis comfortable around them.Weare notsure howhewill be with children, so coming in to meet with himasa wholefamily will be important,thatisifLylehas caught your eye.
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Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling HOROSCOPE WEEK OF MAR 26,2026- APR 1,
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Financial pressurescould strain yourrelationship,but small gestures of affection remain essential. Make space for affection, as yourclosebond will help affirm youremotional stabilityand ease yourworries
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Anynew beginningmay face resistance or criticism;but stay focusedonyourgoals Your perseverance will be recognized and appreciated. Your creativitywill flourish as you draw inspiration from this challengingyet rewardingtime.
LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22
Aperiodofintrospection is on the horizon, urgingyou to clarify yourdeepest desires By slowingdownand caring for yourself,you’ll restore balance and serenitytoyour life,allowing for abrighternew chapterahead.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov.21
Your social life will be buzzing this week.Expectexciting encounters and livelyactivities Your positiveattitude andinfectious laughterwill strengthen yourrelationships,allowing you to fullyembrace joy-filled moments with lovedones.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21
Inspiration will guide you toward ameaningful projectand abeautiful vision for the future. By making informeddecisions, you’ll graduallybeable to build apeaceful, fulfillingretirement. Everystepyou taketoday will shapeyourfuture.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
An impromptuoutingwith friends could brighten your week.However,travelor conversations maybring some unexpectedtwists. Be patient and learn to let go;it’ll help you enjoy this enrichingexperience to the fullest.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
Your determination will fuel yourfinancial goals.A meeting at the bank could move your projects in the rightdirection. In love,someone’s romantic charmcould awaken your feelings,ignitinginner passion and perhapsahintofjealousy.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
Ademandingwork environmentcould test your patience this week,especially with delaysorslowresponse times.Preservingharmonywill requirecompromise, tact and diplomacy.
HOWTOPLAY:
LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the numbers1through 9only once Each 3x3box is outlined with adarker line. Youalready have afew numbers to getyou started. Remember: youmust not repeat the numbers 1through 9in the same line, column or 3x3box
Global energy.Local opportunity.
As Canada’sLNG industry grows, so does the opportunity to help build something bold, different and built to last:an electrified, netzerofacility shapedinpartnershipwith Sḵwxwú7meshÚxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and rooted right hereinthe Sea-to-Sky.Whether you’rejuststarting out or looking forameaningful next step,this isyour chancetobuild a long-term career with acompanythatwill helppowerthe world fordecades to come —right hereinSquamish.
woodfibrelng.ca/careers