Squamish Chief April 11, 2024

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024

HEALTH CARE IMPROVING; STILL WORK TO DO: DOCTOR

Changes to the funding model allow more doctors to remain in family practice

SCOTT TIBBALLS stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com

Ayear on from changes to the provincial funding model for family physicians, a Squamish-based doctor says that health care in British Columbia is back from the brink.

“It’s allowed us to actually survive,” said Dr Lawrence Klein in an interview with The Squamish Chief. “I would say it’s been our salvation—we would not have viable primary care in British Columbia if this had not happened.”

The changes to the funding model—referred to by the provincial government as the ‘Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model’—were introduced in February 2023, and serve to better compensate family physicians by the number of patients they see, and the complexity of patient cases.

The previous model saw doctors compensated per patient, without any heed to the complexity of cases, or how long patients needed to be seen.

Klein, who has worked in Squamish since the mid-90s, said that the community has benefited greatly from the changes because previously, a combination of factors, including poor compensation (through the single-payer fee-for-service model) and

DOCTORS: Continued on 5

DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH

LET’S TALK ABOUT...

NorthYards Park

TheDistrictofSquamish is developing a neighbourhood parkatthe end of No Name Road in Squamish.

We want to know howyou currently usethe space, and whatyou wish forthe spacein the future.Your input will be used to develop concept ideasfor theparkspace. Theconcept idea(s) will then be presentedtothe neighbourhood beforeproceeding to design.

Recycling

TheDistrictofSquamish is working hard to reduce recycling contamination.

Contamination occurswhen material thatis not accepted forrecycling is put in recycling bins

Help us understand the challenges youfacewhen recycling and howwecan better supportyour efforts

LetsTalkSquamish.ca

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE

Burlesque |19+

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Underway:

•UniversityReservoirs 2and 3

•WastewaterTreatmentPlan Expansion and Improvements

Starting soon:

Work to upgrade and repair selectwatermains throughout Squamish will begin May2024.

• May:Mamquam Road -East industrial area

•June:Tantalus Road near Starview Place

•July:GovernmentRoad /AxenRoad

•August:ThunderbirdRoad near Glacier View

squamish.ca/building-our-future

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

•2027 Finch Drive/Solar Way -DevelopmentPermit squamish.ca/review

Ourburlesque workshops are for19+ all levels and abilities

This no-pressureworkshop focuses on building and expressing your confidence using classic techniques and styling from the wonderful worldofburlesque

Tuesdays:5:40to6:40 p.m

View

FamJam DJ dance

Party-DiscoThemed!

Disco fever? Bring your family to our allages DJ DanceParty.Enjoydisco lights and all your favouritehits with DJ NRQi! Addsome sparkleto the dancefloor by dressing up in your grooviest outfit.

April13: 3-4:30 p.m.

AfterSchoolRides | 7-12 years

Develop your mountain bike skills on the trails youlove, and someyou haven’ttried before! NEWGreen and Blue level trails forages7-10yrs

Starts April30

for details and registration visit: squamish.ca/rec

2024/2025 ICE ALLOCATION

IceUser Requests forapproximately August 18, 2024 to May31, 2025 arenow being accepted

Requests Deadline: April26, 2024

IceAllocation Meeting

Wednesday, May8,2024, 6:30 p.m.

This meeting will be held in person in the Tantalus Room at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.

Application details and the application form are available at squamish.ca/IceAllocation,orcall Brennan Park Recreation Centre at 604.898.3604 to request apaper copy.

BUSINESSOPPORTUNITIES

•MamquamBridge Deck Resurfacing and Active Transportation Analysis -Requestfor Proposals

•Landfill GasSystemExpansionPhase 2-Supply & Installation -Requestfor Quotations

squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district

BRENNAN PARK UPGRADES UPDATE

Thefirst phase of the Green and AccessibilityRetrofit Projectisunderway, starting with upgrades to the ice arena changerooms.The changerooms will be closed to the public from Apriluntil end of August and will requireice users to arrive at the centre pre-dressed beforeusing the arena until end of May.

Upcoming impacts:

•Arena changerooms closed through approximately mid-August

•Arena closed May31through approximately midAugust.

•Arena washrooms will remain open.

•Minor parking impacts due to construction.

•Sitepreparation and foundational work forstaff administration area relocation to begin in the summer.

squamish.ca/futureBPRC

BROHM LAKE BRIDGE REPAIR TIMELINE UNCERTAIN, STAYS CLOSED FOR 2024 SEASON

Safety concerns: Brohm Lake bridge deemed unsafe

SCOTT TIBBALLS stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com

Apopular and easy-to-access hiking trail between Squamish and Whistler will remain disjointed for the 2024 summer season. Repairs are on the agenda, but there is no timeline for replacing key infrastructure.

The Brohm Lake Day Use park features a wooden bridge across the lake that allows walkers to make a complete loop of the lake, but the bridge has been closed since late 2023 by Recreation Sites and Trails BC due to rot. There is yet to be a timeline for reopening

The government page for the park says the bridge is closed indefinitely. The park itself remains open, with only the loop trail affected.

“The Brohm Lake Trail bridge has been closed because it has degraded over time and is not currently safe for people to use,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy which is the overarching ministry responsible for recreational sites and trails.

“The bridge will remain closed this season while an assessment to determine the scope of work is completed,” the spokesperson said. “While we are prioritizing the bridge repair, we do not currently have a timeline for its reopening.”

The spokesperson said the ministry understood the importance of the trail to visitors to the area and the Squamish community.

Brohm Lake is a popular park just north of Squamish on the way to Whistler, and its parking lot is regularly full over summer months.

The Brohm Lake Trail allows walkers to complete a 3.3 kilometre loop of the lake, and

provides access to more trails to the south side of the park.

The trails can still be accessed; however, the bridge closure creates dead-ends on some trails. The entire park features 11 km worth of trails easily accessible from Highway 99 The

spokesperson said that the ministry appreciated the community’s patience while Recreational Sites and Trails BC makes sure the bridge is safe to use. Updates on the trail will be posted to the Recreational Sites and Trails BC website.

DOCTORS: Continued from 1

the high cost of living in Squamish were driving much-needed physicians away

“We’ve managed to keep some physicians who we would have almost certainly lost to other medical roles or provinces, and have definitely added a significant number; I would suspect it’s reasonable to attribute that at least five family physicians are currently working in Squamish, who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to financially justify working here, thanks to this new payment model,” he said.

Klein said that Squamish—and British Columbia—had been “on the precipice” before the changes.

“We’d lost a very significant number of physicians—a few who simply retired, but many who left their practices for better-paying roles outside of family medicine. ... While we are arguably no longer ‘on the precipice,’ we nonetheless still haven’t fully made up for those unfortunate losses, nor managed to attract enough family doctors to care for the many Squamish patients who remain unattached and who currently struggle to manage their often-complex health issues with the help of telemedicine and walk-in clinics—and sometimes even by utilizing emergency departments for their primary care.”

“Unattached” refers to those in the community without access to a doctor, a number which Klein said the Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice had roughly estimated to be as high as 5,000 people in Squamish.

Klein said that while the data was hard to nail down, the realities on the ground told the story.

“The numbers aren’t likely completely accurate, but the best estimate comes when doctors open new practices, and we see how quickly they fill, and they would definitely fill very quickly.”

The changes to the funding model seem to

be allowing doctors to hang on and has even drawn more in, and allowed more locals to get access to the health care they needed, said Klein, who added that while there was a raft of other provisions introduced by the government that had the potential to move the needle both on a short and longer-term, making family medicine more attractive needed to be the primary goal

“I think what will be most impactful and cost-effective for the government is if we can continue to shift the current paradigm to make family medicine a more attractive option for newly-graduating physicians, and continue to recruit new full-service family doctors and potentially some nurse practitioners to our communities.

“As the LFP model has shifted British Columbia from arguably the poorest-paying province to one of the better-paying ones, we are beginning to see physicians moving here from other provinces and even from the U.K.” Other ideas in the pipeline are transitioning British Columbia to a “team-based care” model meant to lighten the load on family physicians by bringing in more supports for patient care, such as dietitians and social workers; the creation of a new medical school in B.C.; the addition of nurse practitioners in primary care, more capabilities for pharmacists to assess and treat less-complicated medical conditions, and efforts to streamline the referral system

Klein said that as Squamish stands today, things are much better than 12 months previously.

“We’ve come back from the precipice, and the situation has finally started to look relatively good,” he said.

“It’s a work in progress; we’re all trying our best to retain those family physicians we’re lucky enough to still have—while at the same time educating, recruiting, and, hopefully, ultimately retaining enough practitioners to meet the demands of our current and seemingly ever-growing population.”

PHOTO BY DARRYL SCHWANKE REFLECTING ON THE HARBOUR: Have a photo to

of the image to

WoodfibreLNG’s CommunityPartnership Program provides up to $5,000 in fundingtolocal non-profits. Last year,the Squamish General Hospital Auxiliary Societyused fundingtopurchase new fetal heartrate monitors forthe Squamish General Hospital.

PHOTO BY AAFREEN ARORA

FEATHER:

GARIBALDI, MEAGER REMAIN HIGHVOLCANICTHREATS

Co-author says Squamish should only worryabout eruption the same as they wouldfor othernatural hazardsinthe region

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Newly publishedresearchreconfirmsa highthreatlevel forseveral SeatoSky volcanoes, butone of theco-authorssays locals should worryabout thethreatasmuchas theywould forother naturalhazards

Research co-author MelanieKelman, whois alsoavolcanologist with NaturalResources Canada, recently publishedan articlealongside co-author AlexanderWilsontitled Assessingthe relative threats from Canadian Volcanoes in the CanadianJournal of EarthSciences.

Usingmethods developedbythe United StatesGeologicalSurvey, theauthors assessed 28 Canadian volcanoesand foundMount Garibaldi(Nch’ḵay)and MountMeager(Qwe lqwe lústen)tobeamong thehighest current volcanic threatsinthe country. Yet, Kelman saidthiswas unsurprising as shehad takenpart inpreviousresearch that said much of the same.

“That’snot really toosurprising becausemost volcanoesworldwide areunder monitored, accordingtothe best standardsthatwecan come up with,” sheexplained. “And many volcanoesinthe worldare totally unmonitored.”

Both Garibaldiand Meager have many recent known eruptions, some of whichKelmansaid

were only about9,000 and3,000 yearsago respectively.While that timeline mayseema longtimeago,geologicallyspeakingKelman saidvolcanoescan live formillionsofyears “Alotofvolcanoes, they cangofor tens of thousands of yearswithout an eruption,and then have areallybig eruption,” shesaid. Additionally,someofthe high threat ranking is becausethe twovolcanoes aresituatednear populated areaswithinfrastructure, such as Squamish.But Kelman downplayed any

imminent doom feelingresidents maybe feeling

“I don’t thinkit’ssomething that people should be very worriedabout anymorethan they areabout othernatural hazards,”Kelman said,listing incidentslikethe November 2021 atmosphericriver that caused floodinginparts of Squamish.“Of course,they’re worthy of some concernand preparedness,but should youlie awake at night? Youknow, Idon’t thinkso.”

Kelman,who corresponded with The

Squamish Chiefin2023about an ongoing Garibaldiproject,saidthe same research continues, part of whichisusing interferometric syntheticapertureradar or InSARtomonitor thevolcano.Kelmandescribed InSARas comparingsatellite images in hopesofseeing thepossibledeformationsofavolcano

“Thiswould be very subtle ground movements, on thescale of millimetres, andthose maybeindications that there’smagmatic unrest,” shesaid.

Sheadded theInSAR monitoring will continue permanentlybyNatural Resources Canada afterthe project’send date,which was recently extended to 2026.

Kelman said oneofthe challenges with volcanoesisthatvolcaniceventsare infrequent, so it is difficulttoascertain howtoallocate resources.

“Nobodyhas alivingmemoryofaneruption in Canada,” shesaid. “But at thesametime, the consequences of an eventcould be really big.”

As such,maintaining theongoing research aboutthe threat levelofvolcanoes sets a baseline understandingand mayhelp potentiallyfocus resources.

“The goal …was just to getabettertop-down understandingofvolcanicthreatinCanadaso that we canmakemorerationaldecisions.”

Read Kelman andWilson’sresearchinfull online.

FILE PHOTO BY ROBERT KEIR

Both Garibaldiand Meager have many recent knowneruptions,someofwhich Kelman said were onlyabout 9,000and 3,000years agorespectively. Whilethattimelinemay seem alongtimeago, geologicallyspeakingKelmansaidvolcanoes canlivefor millions of years.

DISTRICTOFSQUAMISH

Notice of Public Input Opportunity (public hearing)

Tuesday, April 23 at 6p.m.atBrennan Park Recreation Centre

WHAT’SPROPOSED: WoodfibreLNG temporaryfloatel.

TemporaryUse Permit No.76

PROPOSED TEMPORARYUSES: To allowfor atemporary floating worker accommodation(floatel) use on the propertyoutlined in black on the Location Mapbelow, foraperiod ofthree years.The floatelwill consist of 652 privaterooms with ensuitewashrooms,central cooking,dining and recreation facilities.

AFFECTED PORTION OF LANDS: DISTRICTLOT 8296, GROUP 1locatedat Woodfibre, Squamish BC

LOCATION MAP:

HOWTOVIEWTHE PROPOSED TEMPORARYUSE PERMIT

Acopyofthe proposed TemporaryUse Permit and related information thathas been or maybeconsidered by Council maybe inspectedonline or at Municipal Hall.

•squamish.ca (Listed under“UpcomingMeetings”onthe home page.)

• 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish,British Columbia, from April 11 to 23, 2024 between 8:30 a.m. and4:30 p.m.,Mondaythrough Friday, excluding statutoryholidays.

Questions? Contactthe PlanningDepartment: 604.815.5002

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Persons who believethattheir interest in property is affectedbythe proposed TemporaryUse Permit willhaveanopportunitytobeheardinperson and to provide written submissions.

In Person

Youmay participate in person during this public input opportunity at Brennan Park Recreation Centre (gymnasium), 1009 Centennial Way,Squamish, B.C.Comments must be relevanttothe Temporary UsePermit under consideration.

ASpeakers List will be established. Youmay register to speak in advanceofthe public hearing by emailing

phspeakerslist@squamish.ca or by calling 604.892.5217. Youcan also register in person on the dayofthe hearing,between 5:15 p.m. and 6p.m. at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre (gymnasium entrance).

Everyone will be provided an opportunitytospeak. Those not on the Speakers List who wish to provide commentsatthe hearing will be provided an opportunitytospeak aftereveryone on the Speakers List has addressed Council

*Please notethatdue to technical capacityconsiderations and in order to ensurea fair and undisrupted hearing,electronic and phone-in participation will not be available.

InWriting

Ifyou would like to submit your comments in writing,please email them to hearing@squamish.ca or drop them off in-person to the attention of the CorporateOfficer at Municipal Hall before4:30 p.m. onApril 23, 2024. Comments via email will be accepted up to and during the hearing

Any written comments submitted (either by email or in person) afterthe close of the hearing cannot be considered by Council.

Watchthe meeting

If youwould like to watchthe meeting and hear the submissions,you can do so by watching the meeting at squamish.ca/live-meetings.

DISTRICT LOOKS TO REDUCE RECYCLING CONTAMINATION

The recycling contamination rate is well above the 3% threshold for the District, reducing the effectiveness of the recycling program

SCOTT TIBBALLS stibballs@piquenewsmagazine.com

The District of Squamish (DOS) is trying to reduce the amount of ‘contamination’ in recycling.

According to a release from the DOS, ‘recycling contamination’ is when material not suitable for recycling is placed in the curbside recycling tote by residents—delaying pickup and reducing the effectiveness of the District’s recycling program by mixing in materials that cannot be recycled.

“It’s a shared community responsibility to ensure only appropriate materials enter our residential curbside collection program,” said Mayor Armand Hurford, in the release.

“Effective recycling programs require appropriate tools, knowledge and effort.

“Our goal is to build an understanding of how and why the community currently recycles, and what barriers might exist in order to guide investments going forward.”

To reduce contamination, the DOS will lean into education of the public, perform ‘tote audits,’ and invest in recycling infrastructure.

The DOS currently has a 3% recycling contamination threshold penalty, meaning it can apply a fine per audited load of curbside material that is more than 3% contaminated.

According to the District, the current average recycling contamination rate of audited totes is 7.84%—well above the acceptable threshold

Top contaminants are glass, books, textiles and fabric The recycling totes provided by the DOS are for newspapers, paper, corrugated cardboard, steel and aluminum cans, rigid plastic containers, milk jugs and cartons, tetra packs, and hot and cold paper beverage cups.

The District has developed a ‘Recycling Contamination Reduction Plan’ (CRP) to both reduce the amount of recycling contamination, and the need for financial penalties through

outreach and education.

The District is also seeking input from the community on a glass collection station pilot program in response to feedback calling for better glass recycling options. Glass collection stations will be piloted through 2025 and will be made up of two medium wildlife-resistant glass totes and two temporary parking spots for drop off access Locations are yet to be locked in; residents are encouraged to identify and share potential glass collection station locations through the DOS online mapping tool, which can be found online.

To learn more about the DOS recycling education program, head to the District’s engagement website at letstalksquamish.ca/ recycling.

GOT A DEPOT?

Meanwhile, the District says efforts continue to finalize a new drop-off recycling location following the closure of the Queens Way Recycle Depot, hosted by GFL Environmental.

“The District of Squamish is supporting Recycle BC—the non-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper recycling in B.C.—in their efforts to establish a new long-term recycling depot in Squamish,” a March 28 District news release states.

According to the muni, GFL is ending the contract with Recycle BC as of May due to space constraints and site safety concerns

“Having a central, accessible Recycle Depot is important to supporting residents in their efforts to divert recycling waste from the Landfill,” the release states.

Those interested in hosting a recycling depot in Squamish are encouraged to contact Recycle BC at info@recyclebc.ca or contact the District’s Sustainability department at zerowaste@squamish.ca.

•Real

•

NOTICE OF BYLAWREADINGS FORZONINGAMENDMENT

District of SquamishZoningBylaw 2200,2011Amendment Bylaw(38108Cleveland Ave) No.3027, 2023

AFFECTEDLANDS: 38108 ClevelandAvenue,Squamish BC

PROPOSED BYLAWAMENDMENT: Thepurposeofthe proposed Bylawisto rezone theproperty from Gasoline ServiceStation (C-2) to Comprehensive Development Zone No.112 (CD-112) to develop afive-storeymixed use buildingwhich includes 23 residentialrentalunits andapproximately 684 squaremetersofcommercialspace.

BYLAW READINGS: Consideration of first,secondand thirdreadingsofthe proposedBylaw will be at the Regular MeetingofCouncil on April 16,2024at 6p.m. in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish BC.No public hearingwill be heldfor this application.

LOCATION MAP:

CLEVELANDAVENUE LOGGERSLANE WINNIPEGSTREET 38108

NOPUBLIC HEARING: In accordance with thenew Provincial housinglegislation, Section464(3)ofthe LocalGovernment Act,local governmentsare now prohibited from holdingpublichearingsrelated to rezoning applications fordevelopmentsthatare primarilyresidential andare consistent with the localgovernment’sOfficialCommunity Plan (OCP).Thisproposal meetsthose requirements.

A

•Onlineat: squamish.ca/showcase

•37955 Second Avenue, Squamish,British Columbia, from April 4toApril 16,2024 between 8:30 a.m. and4:30p.m., Monday through Friday,excluding statutoryholidays.

Enquiries regarding theproposed amendmentbylaw maybemadetothe Planning Departmentat604.815.5002orbyemail to planning@squamish.ca.

This is thesecondoftwo notices of bylawreadings.

Datedthis 11th dayofApril 2024 at Squamish, BritishColumbia.

FROM RAINFOREST TO MOUNTAIN: DISCOVER VANCOUVER ISLAND’S HIKING GEMS

Explore Vancouver Island’s diverse trails with local author Taryn Eyton’s latest hiking guidebook

JENNIFER THUNCHER

jthuncher@squamishchief.com

If you are thinking of hiking on Vancouver Island this summer, you might want to consider picking up this new guidebook to tuck into your backpack

Backpacking on Vancouver Island: The Essential Guide to the Best Multi-Day Trips and Day Hikes (Greystone Books), will be released on April 2.

This is Squamish author Taryn Eyton’s second hiking guidebook.

It comes on the heels of her Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia: The Essential Guide to Overnight Hiking Trails, which was released in May of 2021.

It made the 2021 BC Bestsellers list.

Sea to Sky Corridor locals may also know Eyton as a Leave No Trace master educator and for her advocacy work with the non-profit Friends of Garibaldi Park Society, which works to help maintain and repair Garibaldi Provincial Park

After Eyton released her first book, people asked her if it included Vancouver Island, which it didn’t Focusing on the island, where

she likes to hike anyway, seemed like a natural fit for her second hiking book

“I’ve spent so much time hiking on Vancouver Island; my first ever backpacking

trip was the West Coast Trail,” she recalled.

Of course, she has hiked all the trails she writes about in the book

The bulk of the research was completed in

the summer of 2021 and 2022

The hikes featured run the gamut from easy

BOOK: Continued on 11

PHOTOS BY TARYN EYTON

Left: Cream Lake, Strathcona Park Right: Tenters along the North Coast Trail.

to more advanced, and from well-known favourites to trails some may never have heard of

“I wanted to show people, who might not know, that Vancouver Island has lots of beautiful rainforest hikes and river hikes and mountain hikes. It’s not just coastal hikes,” she said

Eyton said it has been an interesting shift to hike as a working author doing research rather than as a hobby.

“The challenge, unless you hike by yourself, is that I’m working. My friends who are hiking with me are on vacation So, balancing those different mindsets of me going, ‘Yeah, I know, you don’t feel like you’re ready for a break. But I need to take a picture of this toilet,’” she said, with a laugh.

“The things you pay attention to are different when you’re trying to write about a hike for a broader audience than when you’re just enjoying the hike for yourself.”

As for the commonly heard resident complaint about exposing local secret trails, Eyton strongly believes that gatekeeping these places is not the best option

“I’ve talked a lot about this idea of gatekeeping some places and telling people, ‘We’re not going to talk about these places. You need to be a local, you need to be an expert. These aren’t for you.’ And I don’t really subscribe to that policy,’ she said.

“I think in the internet age, somebody’s going to find out about all these places regardless So if they’re going to find out about them, let’s tell people the most responsible way to go there. Let’s be honest with people about what you’re going to expect when you get there—that it might be busy; it may be difficult to get to a bathroom—and give people the tools they need to prepare to visit these places responsibly.”

Find out more about her books and Eyton herself on her website Happiest Outdoors

BOOK: Continued from 10 SUBMITTED

This is

Connecting youtoa worldoflearning, discovery&creativity. www.squamishlibrary.ca

Saturday /April 13 /10:30 am -1:30pm

In celebrationofNational Poetry Month, come have apoem made just foryou by local author and poet YinXzi Ho

Friday,April 19 -Tuesday, April23duringregularlibrary hours

Join us forour five-daybook sale. Allproceeds go to support the library! Donations will be accepted ThursdaytoSaturdayonly.

37907 Second Ave604.892.3110 library@squamish.ca

NOTICEOFZONING AMENDMENTS ELECTORAL AREAS A,B,C,D

Pursuant to Section467(1)ofthe Local GovernmentAct noticeofthe intent of theSquamishLillooetRegionalDistrict(SLRD)toconsiderthe subjectbylawsatthe April 24,2024SLRDBoard meetingisprovided:

“The SUBJECTBYLAWS”

-Squamish-LillooetRegional DistrictElectoral Area AZoning BylawNo. 670, 1999, AmendmentBylaw No.1851-2024;

-Squamish-LillooetRegional DistrictElectoral Area BZoning BylawNo. 1300-2013, AmendmentBylaw No.1852-2024;

-Squamish-LillooetRegional DistrictElectoralAreaC Zoning BylawNo. 765, 2002, AmendmentBylawNo. 1853-2024;

-Squamish-LillooetRegional DistrictElectoralAreaD Zoning BylawNo. 1350-2016, AmendmentBylawNo. 1854-2024

PURPOSE OF THESUBJECTBYLAWS:

The LocalGovernmentAct wasamended on December 7, 2023, to requirelocal governments toupdate their zoningbylawstoallow secondarysuites or accessory dwelling units(ADUs) in allsingle-family zones andwhere applicable,permita minimumof3-6 unitsofsmall-scale, multi-unit housing(SSMUH) in zones otherwise restrictedtosingle-family dwellingsorduplexes. Zonesrestrictedtosingle-family dwellingsorduplexesasofDecember7,2023, arereferredto as Restricted Zones in the legislation

Local governments arerequiredtoupdate theirzoningbylawsbeforeJune30, 2024 to comply withSSMUH legislation

Aminimum of onesecondarysuite or one detachedADU must be permittedonlotszoned for single-family use. Local governments maydecidetopermiteithera secondarysuiteorADU,or bothasecondarysuite andanADU on alot

Unless an exemptionapplies, threetosix dwellingunits must be allowed on each parcel of land zoned forsingle-family or duplex use that is:

a) wholly or partlywithinanurban containment boundary established by aregionalgrowth strategy,or

b) if (a)does not apply, wholly or partly within an urban containment boundaryestablished by an officialcommunity plan within amunicipality with apopulationgreater than 5,000 or

c) if neither(a) or (b)apply,inamunicipality with apopulationgreater than 5,000.

Exemptions from thethree-tosix-unitminimum requirements on lots zonedfor single-family andduplexuse include:

•lands thatare not connected to awater or sewer system providedasa servicebya municipalityorregionaldistrict(must be connected to both);

•parcels of land thatare larger than 4,050m2orlands in azonefor whichthe minimumlot sizethatmay be created by subdivision is 4,050m2;

•landthatwas protected, as of December 7, 2023,under theHeritage ConservationAct, or by bylaw unders.611 of theLocalGovernment Act; and

•landwithina designated Transit-Oriented Area

The subject bylaws propose to provide for thechanges required bythe Province.Revisions includeallowingsecondarysuitesinall residential zonesand an additionalaccessorydwelling unit in someresidential zones (dependent on location,sizeand servicing),changes to setbacks in residential zones,heightincreases for single familydwellingsand accessory dwelling units, new parkingrequirementsfor secondary suites,and residential density increasesinSLRD-serviced areas andareas within the urbancontainmentboundariesofthe Regional Growth Strategy. No densityincreases areproposed for land within theAgriculturalLandReserve except for increases to the sizeofsecondarysuites

AllSLRDZoning bylawsare beingamended to address therequiredchanges.

The subject bylaws applytolands located in Electoral AreasA,B,C andDwhere theSSMUH requirements areapplicable.

INPUT:

Acopy of the subjectbylawsmay be inspectedatthe Regional Districtoffice,1350Aster Street, Pemberton, BC, duringoffice hours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from April 14 to April 24,2024not includingweekendsand statutoryholidays. Youcan also learnmoreabout thesubject bylaws when the April 24,2024Board agendaispostedonthe SLRD website (https://www.slrd.bc.ca/ inside-slrd/meetings-agendas) on Friday, April 19th.Additionalinformation maybefound on the SLRD website here:https://www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/current-projects-initiatives/small-scalemulti-unit-housing-legislation-bill-44-housing-statutes

The SLRD Boardwill be considering first reading of thesubject bylaws at theApril 24,2024SLRD Boardmeeting.All personsmay provide writtensubmissionsrespectingmatters contained in the bylaws. Writtensubmissionsmustbeaddressed to “SLRD BoardofDirectors,” andinclude your name andcommunity of residence.

Until4:00pmonMarch23, 2024, writtensubmissions will be received at the following:

Email: planning@slrd.bc.ca

Hard Copy: Squamish-LillooetRegional District Planning Department PO Box219,Pemberton,BC V0N2L0

PHOTOS

Squamish author Taryn Eyton’s second hiking guidebook.

PHOTO BY TARYN EYTON Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.

CONTACTUS

PRINTEDEVERY

THURSDAY BY GLACIERMEDIA INC.

T: 604-892-9161

NOTRADICAL

Morespace forcyclistsonour roadsis welcome, butitisamerelinkinthe (bicycle) chainofsafety, especially in thecorridor.

REPORTER ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@ squamishchief.com

EDITOR JENNIFERTHUNCHER jthuncher@ squamishchief.com follow @thuncher SALESMANAGER CATHIE GREENLEES cgreenlees@ squamishchief.com

MULTI- MEDIASALES REPRESENTATIVE KIMBOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief.com

PUBLISHER SARAHSTROTHER sstrother@wplpmedia.com

news@squamishchief.com ads@squamishchief.com classifieds@squamishchief.com subs@squamishchief.com production@squamishchief.com obituaries: ads@squamishchief.com The

Starting June 3 (World BicycleDay), when passing, driversmustgivevulnerableusers—suchas thoseon bikes—at least1.5 metres of spaceonhighways wherethe speed limitis51kilometresper hour or over, and1mofspace forhighwayswithspeed limits lessthan50 km/h.

Thenew lawsaysthatwhere thereare separated andprotected cyclinglanes or sidewalks, drivers must leave0.5 mwhenpassing

Failingtotakeproperprecautions with vulnerable roadusers canearna driver a$109ticketand three driver penaltypoints. Failingtoprovide the minimumpassing distance cancostadriver$368 and threedriverpenalty points.

Thenew provincial lawispartofseveral updatesto the MotorVehicle Actthatthe government says aims to enhancesafetyand promoteactive transportation.

Fair enough.

Theneedfor some action to reduce injuries and deathsofcyclistsin B.C. is clear. Accordingtothe BC InjuryResearchand Prevention Unit (BCIRPU), each year in this province thereare approximately 2,600 cyclist-relatedincidents,which lead to more than 1,500injuriesand an averageofseven deaths.

Butthese changescominginJuneare apatch on a bad innertube. Hadthe NDPgovernmentreally wanted to putthe pedaltothe metaloncyclists’ safety,itwould have takena more radicalapproach.

As astudy from Poland states,“Thegreater the share of bicycles in moving about, thecalmeroverall road trafficbecomes.”

In otherwords,whenthere area lotofcyclists, the roadculture shifts andthere arefewer crashes.

So, ultimately,weneedamuchgreater shareof residents riding bikes.

Howdoweget that critical mass?

Weneedextensive biking infrastructure.

“Physicalseparation from motorvehiclesis especiallyimportant on high-speed,high-volume arterialswithlarge vehiclessuchastrucks,”reads thestudy SaferCycling ThroughImproved Infrastructure

Thinkofthe SeatoSky Highway.

As theU.S.Infrastructure articlepublished in the American Journalof Public Health notes,governmentshaveaccesstoplentyof informationabout what will work.

“Netherlands,Germany,and Denmarkoffer decadesofexperienceonhow to improvethe safety, convenience, andcomfort of cyclingfacilities,”the studyreads.

TheseJunechanges in B.C. at leastaren’tputting more of atargetoncyclists’ backs—it is true—but let’s notpretend they will significantlymovethe dial on biking safety in many places,suchasinour region.

YOUTHVOICESINSQUAMISHMATTER

While youthvoicesare oftenoverlooked, the Squamish YouthCouncil workshardto empowerteens andgivethemanopportunity to be heard.

When Ijoinedthe councillastyearinGrade 10,I foundhow youthcan only go so farwithout the supportofadultsand leadersinour community backingusup.

Irealizedhow many groups andorganizations care about amplifying youngpeople’svoicesin our community—buttheyjustneedhelptofigureout wheretostart

TheYouth Councilfound just howstrongthe passion to help youthiswhenwereceivedall of ourincredible applicants forlastyear’sBear’sDen.(It is like Dragons’ Den,awarding$10,000 to non-profitswithprojectsto serveyounger generationsintown.)

We sawsomanyamazing ideasfor localteens presentedlastyear. The2023Bear’sDen winner, Howe Sound Secondary, wasabletouse thegrant moneyto build asafeplace forstudentsbyredesigning the school courtyard.

This year,we hadanoverwhelmingnumberof applications that genuinelyconveyedthe passionfor youthinSquamish. Allofthese applicants have created meaningful ideasfor ways to empowerthe young within ourcommunity as theleaders of thefuture.

Before Istarted gettinginvolvedinorganizations such as theSquamish YouthCouncil,I felt like my ideasand opinions mattered less compared with the older people around me

Afterall,Ihavelessexperienceand I’mstill fairly young. Butafter starting to getmoreinvolved, Ifound that youthare notjustfutureleaders butleaders of the present.Withinthe youthcouncil this year,wehave hadDistrictmembers reachout to us,seeking our ideasand suggestionsabout howtoprevent it

It showed me howmuchour opinions andideas matter andhow we canworkwithadultstosolve real issues

On InternationalYouth DayonAug.12, Prime Minister Justin Trudeauissueda statementreflecting on theroleyoung people play in Canada andthe world: “Young people arethe leadersoftoday andtomorrow. I know youthhaveembracedour country’sstrength, diversity, andinclusion—and Canada is better forit. They also understand theissuesCanadafaces and have theinnovativesolutions we need.”

So even though,asyoung people,wecan oftenfeel that ourviewpointsand ideasare notalwaystaken seriously, we have to remember that thereare so many adults andcommunity leaderswilling andeager to help us if they know how. Planning theBear’sDen has made me realizejusthow much ourcommunity cares andwants to supportyouth andhow we canuse our voices to bringpositivechangeintoour communities.

TheBear’sDen $10,000LiveGrant PitchisonApril 24 at Howe SoundSecondary.Tickets canbefound on Eventbrite.

KianaAlaiisalocal teen andmemberofthe Squamish YouthCouncil.

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

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ATTEND WLNG HEARING

Iam writing to express my deep concerns regarding the recent council meeting that discussed the developments on the Woodfibre LNG floatel. The concerns raised by our council members during the meeting underscore the critical importance of considering the broader implications of projects like this, especially in the context of our current climate emergency.

The decision to house workers on the floatel and impose access restrictions raises serious concerns about the well-being of both the workers and the community. It will create social tensions and exacerbate feelings of exclusion among the workers. Treating workers as if they are confined to a prison-like environment is unacceptable and disregards their rights and dignity.

The notion of approving a short-term permit with the possibility of renewal shifts the responsibility onto future governments and raises questions about accountability. Once a project of this magnitude begins, reversing its effects becomes increasingly challenging, if not impossible. We cannot afford to gamble with the future of our community.

The pending permits from Vancouver Coastal Health for food service, water, and sewage on the floatel also raise important health and safety considerations that must be addressed before we approve this proposal

The long-term health impacts of having an LNG facility near residential areas, particularly on pregnant women, cannot be overlooked. It is essential to prioritize the health and safety of all individuals affected by this project.

It is important to remember that the floatel is just one piece of the puzzle in a much larger project that involves the construction of a new fossil fuel facility in Squamish

In an era where urgent action is needed to drastically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, investing in projects like Woodfibre LNG and supporting associated pipelines perpetuates harmful extraction methods and exacerbates the climate crisis.

The proposed pipeline would not only contribute to increased fracking in communities in northern B.C., according to the Pembina Institute, but also pose

significant risks to marine species in Howe Sound, the fragile ecosystem of the Estuary, and put thousands of Squamish residents at risk

I appreciate the unanimous decision by Squamish council members to schedule a public hearing for this decision It demonstrates a commitment to transparency and inclusivity in the decision-making process.

I encourage members of the community to attend the public hearing on April 23 and pose tough questions to Woodfibre LNG. It is crucial that we hold corporations accountable and demand transparency and accountability throughout the decision-making process. We must advocate for a future that prioritizes the health of our community over corporate profits.

Ankit Sharma, Squamish

GATEKEEPING

Imust confess that I am a culprit of gatekeeping the outdoors.

The common perception of gatekeeping entails restricting access to resources and information to a select group.

It implies that information or opportunities are only available to those deemed worthy—the established insiders with the right connections or residing in certain privileged spaces

But let’s consider the broader definition by Cambridge Dictionary: “The activity of trying to control who gets particular resources, power, or opportunities, and who does not.”

In this context, many of us likely engage in gatekeeping the outdoors But is it always wrong? Is it wrong to caution against backpackers camping illegally in fragile environments or taking risky detours for social media posts? Is it wrong to advise against skiing in avalanche-prone areas based on forecasted conditions?

I’ve found myself gatekeeping at times. A friend, who has never climbed before, is going sport climbing outdoors with someone claiming experience, along with another novice. The experienced person isn’t a guide, which raises safety concerns. Another time, a friend asked to borrow my gear for a multi-day backpacking trip despite having no prior experience. In both cases, I had doubts about their decision,

fearing for their safety and suggesting alternatives In doing so, I realized I was gatekeeping by influencing their choices. The prevalent perspective of gatekeeping the outdoors is inherently bad. However, gatekeeping in the broader context can serve a purpose. Many outdoor activities come with inherent risks, and guidelines are in place to ensure ethical and safe use of these spaces These guidelines, I propose, can be considered forms of “good” or soft gatekeeping, aimed at safeguarding users and environment

Certifications and Courses: Outdoor recreation certifications and courses establish minimum requirements For instance, the Avalanche Safety Training (AST-1) certification demands skiing/ snowboarding proficiency and physical fitness. These prerequisites ensure readiness for navigating diverse backcountry terrains and conditions and prevent participants from becoming liabilities due to inadequate skills.

Trail Pass Systems: During the pandemic, outdoor spaces saw increased visitation, leading to overcrowding and environmental strain. Trail Pass Systems, like the one for Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Provincial Park, limit usage to mitigate these issues. While obtaining a pass may be tedious, it ensures users are informed and prepared.

Signage: Clear signage helps guide outdoor enthusiasts and minimize risk For instance, at the Stawamus Chief, signs designate trails for climbers and hikers while outlining safety precautions. Similar signs elsewhere prohibit activities like drone flying or camping in sensitive areas, reducing harm to the environment. While some forms of gatekeeping, such as discriminatory exclusion or exploiting nature, can be harmful, others prioritize safety and environmental preservation Recognizing both types is crucial for reflecting on our biases, attitudes and intentions Personally, I would love to introduce my friends to climbing or hiking, ensuring safety is a priority If safety or liability concerns arise, I would recommend lessons or hiring a guide. Understanding our intent fosters safer outdoor spaces and experiences, promoting inclusivity and environmental stewardship.

Anita So

Nanaimo (Part-time in Squamish)

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you feel the NDP government has done a good job improving health care in B.C.?

Have your say at squamishchief.com

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

If you haven’t been out on Howe Sound, why not? (Top 2 answers)

MOST READ STORY

Opinion: B.C. gov short-term rental rules only put more renters into bad situations

TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK

This week, reporter Andrew Hughes visited the new book store, Book Mountain, which is located downtown See this and many other videos on our TikTok channel @squamishchief

VEHICLE

MAINTENANCE

CHECK YOUR CAR’S FLUIDS THIS SPRING!

As the weather warms up, it’s time to consider maintaining your car to ensure it runs smoothly and safely this summer. Mechanics recommend checking your car’s fluids in the spring. Here’s what you need to know about the following essential fluids:

Coolant.

This fluid is crucial in preventing your car’s engine from overheating, especially when it’s hot outside. Make sure it’s topped up and in good condition.

Engine oil.

Dirty or insufficient oil can affect engine lubrication, leading to premature wear Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for changing the oil or adding more to the reservoir.

Brake fluid.

Clean or top up your car’s brake fluid. This will ensure you can stop when you need to. If you notice any signs of deterioration or a lack of fluid, visit a professional for a thorough inspection

Power steering fluid.

This fluid keeps your vehicle’s steering system running smoothly. Any signs of leaks or low levels should be dealt with promptly.

Windshield washer fluid.

Running out of windshield washer fluid creates a dangerous situation for you and other road users Ensure there’s enough washer fluid in the reservoir and you’re using the right type for the season to remove debris and residue that could impair your visibility.

Transmission fluid.

Your car’s automatic transmission requires the right amount of clean transmission fluid to work correctly This check is often neglected, and the repair costs can be very high Visiting your mechanic for spring maintenance, including a fluid check, is vital to keep your car in good condition for as long as possible.

PROPERLY INFLATED AND BALANCED TIRES: BENEFITS GALORE

The importance of your vehicle’s tires cannot be underestimated There are numerous advantages to having well-inflated and perfectly balanced tires. Here are just a few:

PRESSURE

Check your tire pressure once a month to keep your ride in top shape. Use a reliable pressure gauge and ensure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Remember that underinflated tires can cause premature wear, minimize fuel efficiency and reduce your vehicle’s stability. On the other hand, overinflated tires can impact grip, leading to longer braking distances and less stable driving.

BALANCE

You should have your tires balanced whenever you switch them out, have suspension work done or if you experience abnormal vibrations while driving. Balanced tires help distribute the vehicle’s weight evenly over all four wheels, minimizing bumps and jolts felt inside the cab.

Ensuring your tires are correctl aligned on the rims can significantly prolong the lifespan of your tires, suspension and other components, thereby reducing maintenance expenses in the long run. Additionally, well-balanced tires offer optimal road grip, which leads to a safer and more pleasant driving experience.

For the best results, visit an experienced mechanic in your area. Happy driving!

Spring is synonymous with flowers and longer days. It also marks the start of warmer weather. Therefore, ensuring your car’s air conditioning (AC) system is in top condition before the summer heat is essential. This can help prevent costly issues and provide the best driving experience

Anticipate the hot weather

Hidden issues can come to light once you start using your air conditioning system in the spring. Inspecting your AC system before summer will ensure any potential problems are identified and fixed before they become major breakdowns. Driving in high temperatures and high humidity without air conditioning isn’t fun!

Warning signs to look out for

Do you notice any strange smells or noises coming from your air conditioner? Is your AC system not working as well as it used to? Don’t ignore these warning signs. They could point to underlying issues Fixing these problems in spring will ensure your air conditioning system works optimally during the warmer months

Practical prevention tips

It’s important to clean or replace your air filters regularly. Having your air conditioning system thoroughly checked by a professional is also a good idea. These preventive maintenance tasks can save you a lot of trouble and keep your AC system running smoothly during the hot season

CAROLINE FAVOT’S LIFE CELEBRATED: COMMUNITY SHARES LOVE

Local remembered for her kindness and vibrant spirit by family, friends and students

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

The family of the late Caroline Favot wants to thank many in Squamish for their support since the 30-year-old passed away Jane Ohlke, mother to Favot, who died while snowmobiling on Brohm Ridge on March 9, expressed feeling “overwhelmed” by the reception she, Favot’s father, Joe Favot, older sister Elizabeth, and younger brother Timothy received when they were in town in the wake of her death.

Despite the effort of many first responders who were on the scene, Favot died after hitting a tree while sledding

The family then made their way from their home in Kingston, Ont., to Squamish, where Favot had lived on and off since 2020.

“My focus is just how wonderful it was for her out there, and I just want to thank everybody for all the amazing things that they did for her and that they did for us,” Ohlke said over the phone once the family had returned to Ontario.

“I couldn’t believe it; we were in absolute shock. We didn’t have to do anything.”

’VERY SUPPORTIVE’

Ohlke said Christine Martin, principal and teacher at Squamish Waldorf, where Favot worked as an educational assistant, and Martin’s

husband, James, helped the family through those first difficult days

The Martins, having lost their daughter Mikayla, who died in a mountain biking accident

TheZCSC is aprovincialbuildingstandardthatis partofthe BC BuildingCode.Itisdesignedtoreduce greenhouse gas emissions(GHGs)innew Part 3and Part9 homes.Squamishisplanningtoadopt theZCSC shortly, whichwill replace thecurrent LowCarbon DensityIncentive.

Pleasejoin us to get more information, discuss these changes andofferyourfeedback.

Contractors andtradespeople areparticularlywelcome!

in 2019, were able to relate and were “very supportive,” Ohlke said

“I don’t know how we would have gotten through it if they hadn’t been there,” she said

Ohlke was touched during a Waldorf school tour to receive thoughtful cards and handiwork from the students and to see how much the children, staff and faculty there cared for Favot. Ohlke noted that when Favot was a little girl, the age of her students at the school, she was shy and sweet.

“Her friends in elementary school, and into high school, called her Carebear,” Ohlke recalled.

Favot’s Waldorf students wanted to see what she looked like as a child, so Favot had brought in a picture of herself at about 10 years old

When they learned of what she was called, they started calling her Carebear, too, Ohlke said

The students also drew images of a girl on a llama.

“And they were calling her Careallama,” Ohlke said, with a soft laugh.

A FRIEND INDEED

Veronika Astakhova spoke to The Squamish Chief on behalf of Favot’s close Sea to Sky circle of friends. Astakhova met Favot when they were both working at Garfinkel’s in Whistler

Astakhova said that while the pair were the best of friends, she has seen through the outpouring of emotion of so many since her

FAVOT:

17, 6to8 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINE MARTIN

The display for Caroline Favot at Squamish Waldorf School, where she worked

FAVOT: Continued from 16

death just how many people Favot knew.

Astakhova credits Favot’s openness and kindness for how easily she connected with so many in the corridor.

Favot had a great balance of generosity and adventure, Astakhova said

She recalled that very early in their friendship, Favot had offered her own bed to Astakhova when the latter found herself between rentals. They lived together for three weeks and became very close.

Astakhova is from Ukraine and when Russia invaded her home country, where her family still lived, she was deeply traumatized by it.

Favot was there for her, even attending a protest with her in Vancouver in support.

“She was just there for me immediately and she knew what to do,” Astakhova recalled Favot was also willing to go with the flow and up for almost any adventure.

Astakhova recalled being in Europe with a friend and convincing Favot to join them—which Favot did.

Favot was also patient, Astakhova said. For example, she taught Astakhova how to mountain bike.

Favot loved the sport and was good at it but was kind and understanding with Astakhova when teaching the non-biker how to ride

Favot left her friends with many lessons to live by, Astakhova said

She found the good in people and would defend those who were being judged, said Astakhova.

“She literally never had anything bad to say about anyone,” she said, adding that Favot always left people with an encouraging word, helping build their confidence.

Her friends also take inspiration from Favot’s confidence in who she was and what she wanted—and her determination to pursue it.

“She’s done so much in her [short] life that a lot of people don’t manage to make happen in their whole lifetime,” Astakhova said “She would always just go after it all; that is something a lot of us are trying to take on now and today is to find your passion and not hesitate.”

Astakhova also noted that Favot’s friends had been touched by how the community came together to help pull off the celebration of life.

HEARTFELT CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Ohlke said she was also very thankful for a local pilot who flew them up to Brohm Ridge.

“We spent some time there. It was valuable time, very valuable,” she said

Then, the family was taken to the celebration of life for Favot at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola, the staff of which Astakhova also noted went out of their way to help with the celebration, as did No Limits Heli Adventures, among others

Ohlke said that Favot’s many friends, present and past co-workers, had gathered

There was a circle of them around a snowmobile helmet in the centre, that attendees put roses on

There was music and flowers and food “everywhere,” Ohlke said.

Many whom the family met told stories of how kind and generous Favot was.

“There were things, even that week before she died, where she was helping other people. She was a good confidant,” Ohlke said, noting her daughter’s past career as a social worker likely made her empathetic and easy to talk to.

“It really gives me comfort, all the good things I heard about her.”

Ohlke said she believes her daughter was in a really good place in her life at the time of her death.

This is a comfort, but also bittersweet, Ohlke said

She was happy in Squamish and had applied to

pursue a bachelor of education at UBC.

“It was heartbreaking because when I was talking to her before this happened, she was feeling really optimistic,” Ohlke said.

“She knew exactly where she wanted to go, and I think that her experience at the Waldorf school really played a big factor.”

In Favot’s obituary, the family suggested those who wish to could give to the school, in her memory

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Christine Martin told The Squamish Chief that Favot had started as an educational assistant at the school in September.

“She was just really wonderful with the children,” Martin said

“She gained their trust and love really quickly. And she was just striving to meet them with a warmth and a kindness, but also a wisdom and strength. And she had a great relationship with the class and the teachers.”

In addition to making items for her family, the class that Favot worked with held a ceremony by the water with drumming and singing, which included Astakhova and other friends.

They put purple tulips, Favot’s favourite, into the water, Martin said

“We miss her so much And she was just such a beautiful shining person that the children loved. We still feel her presence around So, we’ll keep her in our hearts and in our minds for a lifetime—especially those children Those children will never forget her.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY FAMILY

The late Caroline Favot.

PACKED BOOKSTOREOPENS ON SECOND AVE

ThenameBookMountaincertainly fits,asthe ownerestimates thereare at least10,000books in storewithmoreonthe way

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

The name of anew bookstore in downtown Squamish canbetaken quiteliterally

Just inside thefront door of Book Mountain, thousandsofbooks tower from the floortoceiling.Plopintoacomfyleatherchair at thelatestbookstore on Second Avenue,and on a clearday,the Stawamus Chiefstaresbackatyou from outthe window.And like anymountain, there’sburiedtreasurebehindevery nookand cranny youexplore

Theowner of thebookstore,DrewClarke, estimatesthere areatleast 10,000 to 15,000 booksinsidethe store, abouthalfof his25,000 total. Alongsidethe newand used books,Clarke canorder books forspecificneeds,plusthere are recordsand gift cardsavailable too.

Having opened in earlyMarch,Clarkesays he’s slowly,but surely,cataloguing everything. Whilestill aworkinprogress, he’s alreadyfelta sincerewelcome from theSquamish community.

“It’ssoheartwarming, andit’ssonicetofeel welcomeinthe town,” he said.“People arestill just showeringmeinloveand gratitudeand thanks.It’sreallybeautiful.”

This isn’tClarke’sfirst forayintoworking at a

bookstore.Helisteda number of bookstoreshe workedatpreviously, includingVancouver’s Albion Books, wherehepurchased alarge portionofhis collection afterits ownerretired But, this is Clarke’s firsttimeasowner of a bookstore. As forwhy he wanted to open the bookstore,hesimplysaidhewantedtoadd to what wasavailable in Squamish andhad a hunchitwould be well-received.

“I want to be apartofthe ecosystemofthe otherthree bookstoresherebecause Ithink there’saplace forall of us to existtogether,”he said

Andjudging by themanypeoplewho triedto open thedoorwhenThe SquamishChief sat down with Clarke,itcertainly seemsthatit’s alreadywell-received. Clarke said it broughthim joytowatch people take notice of thestore

throughthe bigwindowout frontwitha large bookdisplay,describingpassersby whoalmost needed to enter.

“It’slikezombies trying to getintoget their brains,” he said with alaugh.“It’s just immediately, ‘Books.Mustgotobooks.’”

Lateroninthe year,potentially in thefallor winter,Clarkehopes to starthosting afew communityeventsthatwillpullindifferent appetites, such as book clubsorpoetryreadings. Otherideas included more casual gatherings, wherefolks cansimplyshare similarinterests

“You know,havea jazz nightwithwineand cheese,and just people canmillabout andjust be here andplayrecords.And then have ablues nightwithbeers andshots of whiskey,”hesaid. “So, I’mlooking forwardtogetting creative with thespace both with theeventsand visually as well.”

Fornow,Clarkesaidhe’smostlyenjoying gettingtoknoweveryone.

“There’s this really healthy, rich cultureof artistsand musiciansand writersthatare coming outofthe woodwork andcominghere. …I’vemet more people in thelastthree weeks than I’ve metinthe last threemonths,”hesaid. “Justmeeting so many cool,like-minded people …I’m livingthe dream, man.”

Checkout Book Mountain on Second Avenue, open everyday except Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,orvisit bookmountain.ca.

PHOTOBYANDREWHUGHES/THESQUAMISHCHIEF

Drew Clarke at hisBookMountainstore.

TREELINE COLLECTIVE OPENS NEW STORE DOWNTOWN

It’s been a long road, but founder Caro Arcila says it’s long been a part of her plan

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Spend just a few minutes with Caro Arcila and you’ll quickly learn her passion for others is palpable

As the founder of Treeline Collective, a brand that partners with Squamish and worldwide artisans with an eye toward sustainable and ethically-made products, Arcila opened a storefront on Cleveland Avenue in downtown Squamish in mid-February While the website for Treeline products is still available, opening a storefront was always a goal for Arcila

“I’ve wanted to have a storefront for so long,” she said “Unfortunately, the pandemic put a bit of a hold on that.”

Her passion for collaboration is driven by her life experiences as a Colombian refugee. At the age of 17, Arcila came to Canada with her parents.

She was the only English-speaking member of her family.

This led her to a whole career helping protect children’s rights as she travelled around the globe.

This era was about the time she started dreaming of Treeline Collective, she said, as she met a number of artists from various places who were creating wonderful products but were unable to get them into international markets.

Fast-forward to moving to Squamish, and Arcila has been growing the brand since. Now that the storefront is open, she hopes it will provide new opportunities for some of her collaborations with international artisans.

“We have a line of jewelry that works with single moms from low-income communities and provides them the opportunity to work from

home so that they can be with their kids [and] take care of their kids, but at the same time make a livable income,” she said

And jewelry is just one of the products that you can find at the new shop There are DIY candles, a vast array of artwork, colourful blankets, coffee and teas, bathing suits and so much more Championing others in business may seem unorthodox, but Arcila thinks business could use some disruption

“Even in business, everything’s better if you find a way to support each other,” she said

What’s more, Arcila assures customers can walk away knowing their money is not only going to good people but also going to good causes For example, Treeline Collective is a dedicated member of 1% for the Planet, a network of global businesses that donate at least 1% of sales to environmental organizations.

“When you come here you know that what you’re buying is done wholesomely,” she said “Anything that you buy here goes back to supporting environmental conservation organizations around the world.”

Arcila aims to have items with price points for every budget in the store but also acknowledges that some things are expensive.

To her, however, ensuring fair wages, using quality and sustainable materials, plus donating back to the environment is worthy of some higher prices.

She said equally important was “educating consumers about the real cost of things and the impact that it has on other people.”

But certainly, opening the storefront wasn’t easy, as Arcila recalled almost closing the whole endeavour when she and her partner suffered a miscarriage in December

When asked if she felt comfortable sharing that information publicly, she said it is an important part of life to talk about, and she hopes that as she does, other women will feel comfortable sharing their experiences too.

This is just another example of Arcila role-modelling her beliefs alongside her business

“When I was a kid, I didn’t have a person like me I didn’t have someone to look up to and be like, ‘She did it She’s a refugee, she’s a Latina,’” Arcila said “So, if I could be that person and someone in my shoes can see that and be like, ‘If she can do it, so can I.’”

To learn more, stop by Treeline Collective on Cleveland Avenue, which is open every day except Tuesdays, or visit treelinecollective.com. Squamish Business Beat is a new series that arose from feedback from locals who wanted to see more business-related news. With this beat, we cover brand-new, independent business openings and closings, among other business-related topics, as our time and resources allow. To be considered for this series, please email news@squamishchief.com.

PHOTO BY ANDREW HUGHES/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Caro Arcila at Treeline Collective

application has been submitted to District of Squamish for property located at37707 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C.

Please join the owners: Lazo and Zoran Bjelica, Architect: Chris Hunter and Landscape Architect: Julian Pattison at a meeting to discuss the application and proposed mixed use development.

Date: Thursday,April 11th, 2024

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

Location of the Meeting: Howe Sound Bres Pub and Hostel @ the Firebread Room (Directly to your right as you enter the lobby)

ACasual presentation by the Applicant will begin at: 7pm followed by time for questions and discussion.

The meeting is beingheld by the Applicant in compliance with District of Squamish policy. The applicant will present details of the application and proposed development, receive input from members of the community and respond to questions. Notices are being distributed to residents within 100m of the subject property. If you have any questions in regard to this notice please contact the Planning Department, at 604-815-5002 or Chris Hunter the Architect ofrecord at info@hunteroffice.ca and/or bring your questions and comments to the meeting.

This is not aPublic Hearing. Council will receive areport from staff detailing attendance and interest it the proposal and will formally consider the application at alater date. Please visit squamish.ca/show case to view and comment on this application.

Thank you for your consideration and input.

Sincerely,Chris HunterARCHITECT AIBC

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*Competitivewages,extended health benefits(after 3months)

Email resume to: info@whistlerexcavations.com

Vacasa’sforward-thinking approachand industry-leading technology help set us apart asthe largest full-service vacation rental company in North America

We areseeking individuals with apassion for providing exceptional vacation experiencesfor our Owners and Guests.

We offer competitive wages and benefits: Travel allowance for Squamish/Pemberton-based

develop internalcontrol procedures. CPAorworking towards designation preferred.$32-$42 per hour.

ACCOUNTING &PAYROLL SPECIALIST,Whistler –CPA,PCP or working towardscertification preferred.Full-time, Monday –Friday.$27-$36 per hour

SCRIBBLE BOX

SUDOKU

April 20-May 20

ARIES

If you live with family members, there could be some tension this week Take the time to establish and clarify the rules to restore harmony and create a warmer atmosphere.

TAURUS

You’ll speak directly and will openly express what others are thinking. Learning how to use your new smartphone could prove difficult This will require a period of adjustment during which you’ll have to be patient.

GEMINI

May 21-June 20

Go through your bills to ensure there aren’t any errors If you find any, you’ll be able to recover some money or get compensation. At the very least, you’ll benefit from some sort of gain.

CANCER

June 21-July 22

July 23-Aug. 22

Your patience could be tested in the days ahead. Financial matters will take time to resolve. Solutions will emerge with time or thanks to a gut feeling.

LEO

Deep fatigue will set in this week. You’ll need to take a welldeserved rest During this time, you could have an inspiring revelation that will help you clarify and create a decisive vision of your professional objectives

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

You’ll take the lead in a group and participate in many rewarding activities. Stress could wear you down at times. It will be important to rest before the end of the week to keep your spirits high.

TheParish of St.John the Divine, Squamish

Holy Communion and Morning Worship

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

LIBRA

You’ll temporarily fill in for the boss, which will catch you off guard. The boss could be suddenly absent for a variety of reasons Be confident in your skills and you’ll demonstrate your ability to lead. You could add this position to your resume

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

If you must work with a client from abroad, worries about your language skills could arise. Rest assured; you’ll exceed your own expectations A short training course could help you feel more easeful with your boss or customers.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

A career change could take you back to school. Patience and hard work could help you out of a precarious financial situation and help you find better employment prospects

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

You don’t often hesitate when faced with important decisions However, this time, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons New information could emerge at the last minute, shedding light on the various options

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb 18

Feb. 19-March 20

At work, you’ll be responsible for dealing with emergencies and unsatisfied customers Fortunately, your positive attitude will help defuse tense situations and resolve problems effectively. You’ll be quite adept at selling or negotiating this week

PISCES

You’ll accomplish a remarkable feat in one way or another. You’ll receive warm applause and recognition. You could even demonstrate your heroism by saving someone from a disaster, for example. YOUR

Sundays at 10:00 AM

Rev

Cameron Gutjahr

1930 Diamond Road 604-898-5100

www.squamishanglicanchurch.ca info@squamishanglicanchurch.ca

ExaltingJesus,Equipping His Followers,Engaging theWorld

WorshipService

Sundays 10am

on our website and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737

www.squamishbaptistchurch.org

SeeWebsite for Service times and location

coastalchurch.org/squamish ShareyourPLACEOF

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