April 25, 2024 Squamish Chief

BOAT LAUNCH DAMAGE

The sole Squamish boat launch is looking even worse for wear these days

TROUBLE IN THE VALLEY

DISTRICT RELEASES TAX RATE FOR WOODFIBRE LNG

WLNG says discussions for a long-term tax agreement are still ongoing with the District

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

The District of Squamish announced it intends to charge a 12.5% tax on Woodfibre LNG (WLNG) when BC Assessment officially classifies it as a major industry

Yet, WLNG says there are still upcoming discussions on a long-term tax agreement

At the April 16 regular business meeting, Squamish council revealed that it intends to charge WLNG a tax rate of $125 per $1,000 assessed value when BC Assessment classifies the plant to Class 4—major industry

“It’s important for our community to note within this report our ongoing efforts to try and sit at the table with Woodfibre LNG to come to a 10-year tax agreement or a negotiated settlement there and that has not occurred to date,” said Coun Jenna Stoner at the meeting. “This is kind of the opportunity that we have to ensure that that project, when it does get reclassified to major industry, is paying its fair share of our tax burden.”

The District report alongside the meeting says the B.C. average tax rate for major industry is about $29 per $1,000 assessed value, or a 2.9% tax.

The proposed District rate for WLNG is over four

TAX: Continued on 5

PHOTO BY DARRYL SCHWANKE

AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW: Sunday showers made for spectacular rainbows in Squamish

SQUAMISH COUNCIL REVERSES COURSE, ADDS EXTRA $410,000 TO VALLEYCLIFFE CHILD CARE PROJECT

Initially, council sought to only add $230,000 to the already inflated project budget

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

What a difference a week can make.

In a unanimous decision on April 16, council opted to increase the budget of the Valleycliffe child care project to the original staff recommendation of $410,000 instead of ratifying the decision made at the April 9 committee of the whole meeting, which only would have increased the budget by $230,000

Now, the District of Squamish will fund approximately $770,000 of the $3.3 million project, more than doubling its previous commitment. A provincial grant of $2.53 million funds the rest

FRUSTRATION GROWS OVER BOAT LAUNCH CONDITIONS

Advocate calls on Woodfibre LNG to fix launch; company says it is working directly with ‘operator’

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

Rich Duncan stands watching a young man and woman try to navigate their boat on a trailer out of the water at the Squamish boat launch in the Mamquam Blind Channel.

It is low tide, and the back wheels of the pickup truck are spinning fruitlessly in the water

“Put it in four-wheel drive low,” Duncan yells.

Eventually, the truck lunges forward, and the dripping vehicle and aluminum skiff make their way up the worn concrete of the boat launch.

Duncan has seen this kind of thing before. The avid boater and founder of the Squamish Needs a Boat Launch Facebook page says that the one place to put a boat in the water in the district hasn’t been great for a while—causing situations like the pair stuck at low tide—but recently it has gotten a lot worse.

He says Woodfibre LNG contractors’ vessels, particularly landing barges, have been using the boat launch and causing further damage He is calling on the company to pay to fix it

Many of the concrete blocks along the right side of the ramp are now fully pulled away from it

This is an issue because the blocks protect the concrete ramp Without them, the concrete degrades quicker as the tide comes in and out. The barriers also keep trailers and vehicles from going over the edge.

“These are necessary to keep people from running off the sides with their trailers. As you can see, when they came down here, they struggled all the way down,” he said of the truck and trailer that weaved awkwardly down the ramp to retrieve their boat.

The other issue is that the gravel ramp on the right-hand side is unusable due to massive ruts that have been created. Again, Duncan blames contractors working for Woodfibre LNG.

He says he has met with representatives of the company, but the issue hasn’t been resolved.

The Squamish Chief reached out to Woodfibre LNG with several questions about the situation with the boat ramp

A spokesperson for the company, Sean Beardow, sent the following statement: “The issue has been raised and is being dealt with directly between the operator and the company.”

Ultimately, say locals who have been advocating for decades, Squamish needs a public boat launch away from the downtown core, as alongside the current degradation there is also minimal parking and manoeuvrability with the current popular lot

Right now, Duncan advocates for one at

Darrell Bay. APRIL 30 MEETING

A spokesperson for the municipality said the District began working on a Squamish Marine Access Review (SMAR) in 2021, as part of the 2018 Marine Action Strategy, which aimed to address marine access like the boat launch.

“The purpose of this project was to assess community ocean access needs and improve planning and coordination of marine access areas and infrastructure to enhance ocean access for all marine users. Extensive engagement opportunities were held during the course of this project including community surveys, pop-up events and direct outreach with intergovernmental agencies

and local organizations,” the spokesperson said in a written statement.

“A boat launch situational analysis was presented to Council in June 2023 as part of the SMAR Update and Discussion Draft. The final SMAR will be presented to council for endorsement on April 30. The SMAR contains recommendations for boat launch access as well as an examination of identified alternative sites for the long term. The current financial plan includes initiating a launch feasibility assessment for Darrell Bay in 2024. Next steps will be determined following the council outcome after the presentation later this month.”

For more information on the District’s plan, visit letstalksquamish.ca/ marine-access-review

PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Rich Duncan at the boat launch late last week

times greater than that average, which would likely equate to millions of dollars in tax revenue from WLNG

As for a long-term tax agreement, a spokesperson for WLNG told The Squamish Chief in an email that discussions on a tax agreement are ongoing.

“Woodfibre LNG has been engaged in good faith tax discussions with the District of Squamish, aimed at achieving a 10-year tax agreement with the District of Squamish that would provide enhanced tax revenue to the District in the years before facility construction is complete,” reads a statement from the company.

“Both parties engaged expert consultants in this field, and a meeting to discuss their work is upcoming. While the timely conclusion of this work has been impacted by periods when the District’s consultant was unavailable due to other professional obligations, Woodfibre LNG has and will continue to work sincerely, collaboratively and in good faith to conclude

an agreement.”

Bryan Murao, an assessor with BC Assessment, told The Squamish Chief that generally classifying WLNG into the major industry category will occur when construction of the actual “industrial improvements” commence The term industrial improvements comes from both Prescribed Classes of Property Regulation and the Assessment Act, which includes “producing, manufacturing, processing or refining of petroleum or natural gas” as one of the categories that falls under industrial improvements.

“Actual construction of improvements goes beyond general pre-construction activities like sit clearing, site preparation, land remediation, etc.,” he wrote.

More or less, once WLNG begins to build the plant, then the assessment would classify it as major industry. This classification is defined for a property’s land use on Oct. 31 of every calendar year

A January 2024 update on WLNG’s website says pre-construction work is ongoing. The project aims to be completed by 2027

“While I feel like we’re in a bit of a rock and a hard place, I feel like this is the actual financially prudent way forward,” said Coun Jenna Stoner upon reconsideration on April 16.

The project is situated behind Valleycliffe Elementary, just off Hemlock Avenue, and has been saddled with recent delays, including an archaeological find plus increased costs over the last couple of years. The project aims to provide 36 new child care spaces with Sea to Sky Community Services as the operator.

The initial decision to cap the increasing budget happened on April 9 when several on council spoke frustratingly about the budget going beyond the estimations they had agreed upon

“Our construction partners have a

responsibility to give us estimates with reasonable contingencies so that we don’t get carried down a path, one step at a time: cost increase, cost increase, cost increase, cost increase,” said Coun Andrew Hamilton on April 9.

Several times during the committee meeting, Stoner referenced how the budget had ballooned to about $90,000 per child care space.

The motion approved on April 9 hoped to only see the project increase by $230,000, a number within the estimated plus 10% accuracy range from September 2023, and would have referred the project back to tender. As part of the motion, if there were no suitable options, they would have dropped the project altogether and would have had to repay the province and eat other already spent funds.

Yet after some deliberation on April 16, council decided against that manoeuvre. Coun. John French thought even just their consideration of that motion would send a message.

“Where we landed last week has sent a message to that this council is not happy with cost escalations for capital projects,” he said. “And I think we’ve sent a message that we’ll be watching budgets very carefully.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton hoped they could learn a better way to make plans and get funding that covers all of the costs, so the District doesn’t have to foot the bill beyond its initial commitment.

And although Stoner was ultimately in support of the increase in budget, she was adamant that the prices would not be viable in the future

“I maintain that this is not going to be the way forward in order to deliver 100 new child care spaces every year for the next five years to get us to our child care access rate We just, across all levels of government, do not have that level of money,” she said Others on council spoke about the desperate need for child care in Squamish versus balancing the budget of the project.

“As much as these spaces are really important, and there’s a massive need in our community, delivering them in this way is challenging,” said Mayor Armand Hurford.

Hurford added he would pay close attention to the risk of cost escalation for future projects.

District staff noted in the meeting the project is aiming for a January 2025 completion. View more information about these meetings on the District’s website at squamish.ca.

PHOTO BY GERALD WOLFE ORCA SIGHTING: Gerald Wolfe saw four orcas off of Porteau Cove on Sunday

COUNCILAPPROVES23-UNIT,MIXED-USE PROJECTONCLEVELAND AVE.

In 6-1vote, afive-storey building at ClevelandAve.and WinnipegSt. gets thego-aheadfromcouncil

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Another corner of ClevelandAvenueand WinnipegStreetwilllikelybegetting more homes

Squamish councilapprovedthree readings of arezoningapplication for38108 ClevelandAve., whichisthe lot next to Pearl’sValue andVintage, by a6-1 vote at theApril 16 regularbusiness meeting. Coun.LaurenGreenlawcastthe only vote againstthe readings.

Therewill be no public hearingfor this application, as theresidential aspectofthe projectisgreater than 50%and,therefore, cannothaveapublichearing duetoprovincial regulations. As such,council will likely adopt this decision at an upcoming regularbusiness meeting.

“Thatpiece of property satfor alongtimenot providingemploymentspace of anysortor adding to thestreetscape,sothisisa bigpiece I’mreallyhappy to seethis move forward,”said Mayor Armand Hurford.

andWinnipegcorner, upgradeone crosswalk on LoggersLanewithaflashingbeacon, and enterano-gascovenantfor thewhole building

Some on councilwereconcernedabout the viewsofMt. GaribaldiorNch’kay that theupper storeyswould protrude into,asthe topthree storeysare setbacklessthanthe recommended 14 metres

Ultimately,however,Coun. ChrisPettingill said more densitydowntownwill preserve the naturalspace outsideofit.

“There is areasonwhy people want to live in Squamish andsothose viewscapes are important. But, Ialsokeepinmindthatwhen we areabletofindabit more height andabit more densitydowntown, it keepsusall within 15 minutesofthe true outdoorspace wherewe canhavefullviews,” he said.

Greenlaw didnot speaktoher opposition to theapplication during themeeting

TheapplicationfromLexiDevelopment Groupseeks to builda five-storeybuildingwith commercial spaceonthe firstfloor,parking on thesecondand theremaining storeyshousing 23 residentialunits.Intotal,20two-and three-bedroomunits will be market rentalsand theremaining threeone-bedroom unitswillbe affordable rentals.

Notably, thelot in question used to be agas station in the1990s anda proposal by thesame proponentatthe same location wasdefeatedby thecouncil of theday in 2021.

AccordingtoaDistrictreportpresented at the recent meeting, sincethe homesare allsecured at market or affordable rental rates, thereare no communityamenity contributionsassociated with theapplication.However,the application proposes to constructa plazaatthe Cleveland

This particular intersection will likely seelots of newconstructioninthe coming years. Across ClevelandAvenuefromthisproposal, Squamish councilrecentlyapprovedthree readings of a44-unit mixed-usebuildingthat also includes aproposedplaza upgradetothe ClevelandAvenueand WinnipegStreet intersection

Learnmoreabout the38108 ClevelandAve projectbyreading theDistrictofSquamish’s reportfromthe April16council agenda.

DARTS & DAFFODILS

SHOUT OUT TO JODY

BARRON AND HIS TEAM from Squamish District Public Works for a quick response to locate and repair my water shut-off, as well as assistance with the process of getting my culvert replaced.

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.

PITCH-IN WEEK: On Saturday, April 20, members and friends of Squamish Rotary were on the streets and lanes of downtown Squamish picking up litter and rubbish for Pitch-In Week Two truckloads of garbage were collected and taken to the dump Available24*7

DISTRICTOFSQUAMISH

NorthYards Park

TheDistrictofSquamish is developinga neighbourhood parkatthe endofNoName Road

We want to know howyou currently usethe spaceand whatyou want to see in anew park. This input will supportus to develop concept ideas,which will then informthe park’s design.

Residential Recycling

TheDistrictofSquamish is working hardto reducerecycling contamination.

Contamination occurs when material that is not accepted forrecycling is put in recycling bins. Help us understand the challenges youface when recycling and howwecan work together to create astronger cultureofrecycling in Squamish.

LET’S TALK ABOUT... LetsTalkSquamish.ca

WHAT’SHAPPENING IN RECREATION AND CULTURE

2024/2025 ICE ALLOCATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Underway:

•UniversityReservoirs 2and 3

•WastewaterTreatmentPlantExpansion and Improvements

Upcoming work:

TheDistrict’spaving programgets underwayApril 29.

•April 29toMay 3:Judd Road from Government Road to Cottonwood Road

Work to upgrade and repair select watermains throughout Squamish willbegin May2024.

•May:Mamquam Road -East industrial area

• June:Tantalus Road near Starview Place

•July:Government Road /AxenRoad

• August:ThunderbirdRidge near Glacier View Drive

squamish.ca/building-our-future

Registration forthe summer programs is now available.

Actfast to reserve your placein one of our popularbike camps

We also havelots of swimming lessonsoptionsatall levels.

Seniors’Corner +

Come try aTai Chiclass!

TheTai Chiinspired fitness programincludes softand flowingmovementsdesigned to enhance balance, coordination andconcentration.

Check your pool schedule forMay!

Thereare some special weekend events taking placethatwill affect public access.Tocompensate forthe changes,we’ve added parentand childswim sessions wherepossible.

SensoryFriendly Swim forall ages!

April27, 5:15 –6:45 p.m.

Last Youth Pool Takeover until Fall!

April27, 7-9p.m.

View the pool schedule

for detailsand registration visit: squamish.ca/rec

Thedeadline to submit an iceuser request forthe upcoming season is Friday, April26, 2024. Theseason is from approximately August 18, 2024 to May31, 2025.

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

•Mashiter Creek HazardAssessment -Request for Quotations

•Corridor Trail Lighting -Request forProposals

•Ditch Remediation along Highway99 -Request for Proposals

•Artificial Turf Field Replacement -Request for Proposals

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 changeroomswill be closed to the public from April until 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

COUNCIL SETS PRIORITIZES

Elected officials to focus on Squamish Nation-related heritage priorities, speed limit reduction and traffic calming

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Council endorsed some priorities for the remainder of their term, but prioritizing some initiatives over others drew the ire of a few in the audience

After a long discussion about numerous priorities at hand on April 2, council unanimously endorsed priorities for the District of Squamish’s strategic plan including the three Squamish Nation-related priorities from the heritage strategy, speed limit reduction and traffic calming policy implementation, and policies for partnering with community organizations.

The reasoning behind needing to make these priority decisions, said chief administrative officer Linda Glenday, is that District staff are currently overloaded.

“Frankly, we are oversubscribed. We have a very ambitious staff. If you look at the municipal services list of tactics, that’s our next process is to pare that down to a realistic amount that we can actually deliver in three years,” she said “The reason we’re asking council to endorse the priority tactics this year is so that we are aligned.”

Vehicle residency policy options and implementing paid parking by 2025 were the two most debated topics that did not become priorities going forward. The paid parking aspect would continue to be worked on but the completion date would be pushed, likely beyond the current council’s term, and there was not a particular next step named for vehicle residency.

“When everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. So, it is incredibly important that we focus our work and understand the trade-offs that are happening,” said Mayor Armand Hurford. “There are trade-offs that impact people in every piece of our work.”

VEHICLE RESIDENCY

Council heard from a couple of people about vehicle residency before the priority presentation, as council opted to hear from them as part of unscheduled public attendance

Later, Coun Lauren Greenlaw brought forth a motion to consider removing prohibitive vehicle residency language from the camping bylaw at a committee of the whole meeting, but the motion did not pass as she was the only vote in favour

Council was disrupted several times during the discussion by members of the public in the gallery during the discussion Although what was said by the audience members was unclear, several on council asked for comments to be held while they deliberated.

“We have not seen a decrease in vehicle residents, which is to say the bylaw has not deterred sleeping in vehicles. Instead, it has served to make sleeping in vehicles less safe and less comfortable for those who are choosing this lifestyle and perhaps worse for those who are living in vehicles out of necessity,” Greenlaw said Greenlaw said broadening the definition of housing, plus increasing trash cans and toilets will better serve the community in the long run.

On the other hand, Coun Jenna Stoner said simply changing the bylaw wouldn’t address the overarching challenges, as the bylaw was originally implemented to address problematic behaviour.

Coun Andrew Hamilton echoed Stoner in his comments

“The challenge I see here is that a viable, durable and fair solution is enormous,” he said. “I want to find a durable solution, but I don’t see us having the capacity to find that solution in the short-term.”

PRIORITIES: Continued on 10

DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH NOTICE OF INTENTION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNDERA PARTNERING AGREEMENT

Take noticethatpursuanttosection 21(a)ofthe Community Charter (British Columbia)the District of Squamish proposes to work with the following businesses(“Companies”) undera partnering agreement.

•LingLingCanteen (RegistrationBC0001),havinga registered addressat204-1212MainStreet, Squamish BC V8B0S1

•TTNJ(Registration No.BC0001),havinga registered addressatUnit 11,38927 QueensWay,Squamish, BC V8B0K9

•UniqueSlowRiseBakery, AddictiveFocacciaLover (Registration No.00009947),havinga registered addressat724-38363 BUCKLEY AVE SQUAMISH BC V8B0J8

•Fuseand Sip(Registration No.756985602), having aregistered addressatPOBox 3079,Garibaldi Highlands,VON1T0

•TurnerEntreprises,SuperMilk (RegistrationNo. BC1115506), having aregisteredaddress at 336-38109SecondAve.Box 7000, Squamish,BC, V8B0T7

•Sea to SkyMushrooms (RegistrationNo. BC1471383) having a registered addressat41701 Government Road,Brackendale,BC VON 1H0

Thepurpose of thepartneringagreement is to enable theDistrictto encourage strategicinvestments andnew firmgrowthinprioritysectors ofthe economytogeneratenew employment andeconomic resiliency locally.One tactic beingapplied to this objectiveisthe creation of new economic developmentcontent,including thedevelopment of awebsite, andprint anddigital marketingcollateral. Additionally,the Companies will be attendingFromthe GroundUpTradeshow,onMay 9aspartof aSquamishCraft Food andBeverageSectorDelegationfor strategic attraction into thesectordevelopment

TheDistrictand theCompanies wish to enterthispartneringagreement for a year to year term to create economic cevelopmentcontent highlighting emerging business sectorsinthe District andinvestmentand attraction to thesector. TheCompanies mayreceive benefit in theformofpromotion, goodwill or othersimilar incidental benefitsthrough participatinginthese activities.There will be no paymentormonetarytransactionsassociated with this activity

Anyinquiries concerning theproposedassistanceshouldbeaddressed to theDistrictofSquamishEconomicDevelopment Office at economicdevelopment@squamish.ca

At 11 am, Iwill honour workers who have died, wereinjured, or became ill from their job.

779

OPEN HOUSE

Squamish HousingActionPlan

Updating ResidentialZoning

Learnmoreabout howthe District is proposing to update residential zoning to alignwithprovinciallegislation andthe Squamish HousingActionPlan. Staff will be availabletoanswerquestions in advance of Council considerationofthesebylaw changes.

Thesechanges will:

•Increaseflexibilitythrough zoning changes.

•Increasethe permitted numberofdwellingunits on alot from threeto four.

•Permita wider varietyofhousing types,increase thepotential rangeof siting options, andreducerequiredparking

Staffare recommendingchangesthatalign with provincial policyguidance.

Tuesday, April 30, 5to7:30p.m.

GaribaldiRoomatHoweSound Inn&Brewing

Thursday,May 2, 11 a.m. -1 p.m

Onlineevent held on theWebex platform.Webinar number:2774541 5295. Password: bill44(245544fromphones and videosystems)

Join by phone: 604-449-3026 Canada Toll (Vancouver)

Accesscode: 277454 15295

squamish.ca/housing

PRIORITIES:

Continued from 9

Greenlaw countered Stoner and Hamilton saying that the dilemma is that neither short- or long-term solutions are ideal, so the issue doesn’t get resolved.

“The long-term solution is too expensive and the short-term solution is not perfect. So it just gets kicked down the road and never actually addressed,” she said

Despite the motion failing, Greenlaw said she wanted to collaborate with council members on solutions.

TRAFFIC CALMING BEFORE PAID PARKING

Council also discussed the trade-off between focusing on implementing paid parking versus traffic calming.

Glenday informed council members that essentially they were choosing which to attempt to complete before the end of their term.

After a lengthy discussion—with some councillors initially voting in favour of a motion prioritizing paid parking that failed council unanimously opted for traffic calming.

“It’s incredibly challenging for me to prioritize a halfway measure of paid parking

over the pieces that are life safety. And when I reflect on other ways we’ve prioritized things, to me, life safety comes first,” said Hurford.

Coun John French called the choice between the two a “total gametime decision,” but ultimately landed on speed reduction and traffic calming.

“When I think about speed limits it takes me immediately to the young school kids who live in my complex and walk along Government Road to Mamquam Elementary School,” he said “There’s a significant stretch of road where those students are walking and vehicles are travelling at well over 50 kilometres an hour I want to protect those kids.”

Along with these endorsed priorities, council also updated an objective of the strategic plan to include language around developing and implementing a memorandum of understanding between the Squamish Nation and the District.

This particular piece is an objective that came about after the District and the Nation signed the Wa Iyım ta Sḵwxwú7mesh

(Squamish Strong) Protocol Agreement in July 2023

Council also OK’d considering trade-offs for future new initiatives rather than simply adding them to the plate.

PHOTO BY AAFREEN ARORA

A RIVER

aunicorn?3 bedroom townhomelocated in Shannon Estates,garage,centrally located, next to green spaceand rivertrails!

STILL NO NEW RECYCLE DEPOT

If Recycle BC cannot soon find a public recycle depot, Mayor Armand Hurford may advocate to the provincial government for solution

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

The District of Squamish is still working with Recycle BC on a replacement recycling depot, but if a resolution is not found soon, Mayor Armand Hurford may write to the province to further advocate for one.

In information released from an in-camera April 9 meeting, or a council meeting closed to the public, council has approved Hurford writing a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Recycle BC

“requesting that an interim and permanent solution be identified” for a new recycle depot for Squamish residents.

This information was released in the April 16 regular business meeting agenda, but was not elaborated on at the meeting itself

According to a Jan. 17 news release, the District received notice in October 2023 that Green For Life (GFL) would end its public recycle depot on Queens Way largely due to space constraints and site safety concerns The contract between the District and GFL noted that either party could terminate the recycle depot service with six-months notice

All efforts are being made to finalize a new dropoff recycling location in order to continue offering the services currently provided at the Queens Way location.

services in the foreseeable future.

According to a District news release from March 28, the depot will remain open until May 31

“Although the District of Squamish Landfill and London Drugs include an on-site Recycling Depot, Recycle BC is required to provide depot-only material collection services in Squamish,” reads a news release from March 28

“All efforts are being made to finalize a new drop-off recycling location in order to continue offering the services currently provided at the Queens Way location.”

In January, a District spokesperson told The Squamish Chief that the municipality did not expect any changes to curbside collection

However, losing a centrally-located recycling depot may not bode well for the District’s efforts to reduce residents’ curbside recycling contamination rate, which currently stands at about 7.84%—over double Recycle BC’s 3% contamination threshold penalty. Currently, top contaminants include glass, books, textiles and plastic.

To reduce glass in curbside totes, the District continues to take on suggestions for areas to put a neighbourhood glass collection station to pilot in 2025 Feedback can be submitted at letstalksquamish.ca/recycling.

PHOTO BY ANDREW HUGHES/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Regular house-to-house recycling pick up is not impacted by this closure.

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EDITOR

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EDITORIAL

EDUCATE

For many of us whogrewupspendingtime in the backcountry, showingrespect andmaturityled to more cool ‘adult’responsibility.

Dadtaughtyou howtouse an axe, forexample, andthenlet youtrytocut kindling.

Swingthe axearoundwildlyorthreatenyour brother with it—thatwas that.

No more gettingto be grownupwiththe axe.

Thesamewentfor starting afireand learning to drive (backwhenlearningto drivebeforeyou were legalmeant you couldbeanother driver if something went wrongonFSRsfar from ahospital);act like an idiot,and youlostprivileges.

So,wegrewupequatingcareand responsibility in thebackcountry with thepride of beingcapable and adult.

Forthose whodidn’tgrowuplearningthese lessons, thebackcountry perhapsfeels morelikea fieldtripwithnoteacher supervision—or maybea wild frat partyon thefirst year away from home.

It hasreached thepoint wherethose whoare stewards of theland, like in theSquamishValley, are startingtosay enough is enough.

Ifthingsdon’t improve, thosewho canmanage access,likeSquamishNation, coulddecideitistime to take thesymbolicaxe away from everyone—and severelyrestrictaccessto theplacesso many of us love.

Thoseofuswho defertothe forests, rivers and lakesand aimtoleave no tracewhenwerecreate need to step up andhelpthe strained agencies that aredoing theirbesttotacklethe problem.

VeteranU.S.hiker,guide andauthorPhilipWerner hassimpleand helpfultipsonhow to educateothers outdoors,without causingconflict.

Sayyou see someonecamping tooclose to the Squamish Riverinthe valley,for example.

Werner’smethodis:

Give thepersonthe benefitofthe doubt. Maybe they just don’tknowthe dangers.

Make conversation first. Standsidebysiderather than eyetoeye,which canbeintimidatingorseenas aggressive

“Teach people thereasonwhy theiractions impact thebackcountry by explaining theecologicaland naturalprocesses at work.”

Give them an alternative.

Of course,thisisasimpleexample.The pointis, thereare plenty of things many of us see outinthe valley or up theMamquam FSRthatweknoware wrong, butwedon’t speakup.

Butifwesee it as educatingsomeone whomay not know,thattakes someofthe edge off.

If it is not safe toapproachthe errant individuals, at least call in andreportthemtoConservationor theRCMP, whicheverisappropriate.

Thoseofuswho love ourwilderareas andwildlife havearesponsibilitytoprotect them andhelpthe maxed-outauthorities whocan’t be in so many placesatonce.

FINDINGANSWERS IN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK JENNIFER THUNCHER

One of thebestthingsabout beingajournalist is that everything—including what happens in ourpersonal lives—is fodder fora story.

Recently,Ihavebeenusing themedical system moreoften than in past years. (I am fine.)

Igot aCTscaninWhistler, andI’vebeenusing theprovince’sHealthGateway app.

Both experiencesraisedquestions that readers mightalsohave.

So,Iput my queriestothe Ministry of Health. Here’swhatI foundout.

Answershavebeeneditedfor length andclarity.

Q: What is theaverage wait time foraCTscanat Whistler Health Care Centre andLions Gate Hospital?

A: VancouverCoastal Health (VCH)prioritizes CT scan referralsbased on provincial guidelines. [Provincialguidelines say, dependingonthe situation, CT scansshouldbescheduled from immediatelytowithin60days.]

To supportsafe, qualitycare, thewaittimes for

patients requiringCTscans in theSea to Skyregion mayvarydepending on priority andlevelofcare required

Q: Canyou tell me aboutthe staffing of CT techsat theWhistlerHealthCareCentreand LionsGate Hospital?Inother words, aretheybothfully staffed, shortstaffed and/or lookingfor staff?

A: Acombination of patientvolumes andanational shortage of health care workershas createdstaffing challenges formedical imaginginthe region.VCH continuestoexplore andimplement awiderange of measures to help addresscurrent staffing challenges,including targeted recruitmentstrategies andthe redesign of staffing models,where appropriate.Currently,atSquamishGeneral Hospital,we aretrainingour existing radiologytechnologists to operatethe [upcoming] CT device

Q: Theprovincialgovernmentistryingtoincrease thenumberofCTtechs in B.C. Canyou tell us a fewwaysthisisbeing done?

A: As part of theprovince’sHealthHuman Resource Strategy implementation,weaim to increase the supply of medicalimaging technologiststhrough training,recruitment,and retentionstrategies. Adding additional training seatsatpost-secondaryinstitutions, supporting training throughbursaries,and

NOTEBOOK: Continuedon13

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)

NOTEBOOK: Continued from 12

streamlining access to training from various entry points are all being explored and/or are already being implemented.

Also, to increase capacity in the Sea to Sky Corridor, the province is installing a new CT scanner at Squamish General Hospital, as announced on Feb. 12 The new scanner is projected to perform 7,000 CT scans per year, or about 20 per day and be operational in 2025

Q: How many people have downloaded the Health Gateway app?

A: More than 1.54 million registered users

Q: What is the process for getting information onto the app?

A: CT/diagnostic imaging reports (not images) are securely

uploaded about 10 to 14 days after a procedure to provide doctors an opportunity to review and discuss the results with their patients

Other tests, such as blood test results, can take up to two days to be added to Health Gateway, while pathology tests, such as cervical screening, can take a few weeks or months

Not all report types are available from all health authorities

Diagnostic imaging reports from private clinics are not yet available

A guide about how to use Health Gateway is available at:

Access your health records with Health Gateway – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

If users require help using the system, they can visit the Health Gateway support guide or contact HealthGateway@gov.bc.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COST OF CHILD CARE CENTRES

Iread the article “Updated: Squamish council reverses course, OK’s extra $410,000 to Valleycliffe child care project” [published online on April 17]. I understand it was a difficult decision for the council to grant more taxpayers dollars to support this project.

As the project was so far along/delayed, it was necessary. The forecasted demand for daycare in Squamish will be high as families relocate to Squamish as a preferred location to raise their families Squamish must continue to support daycare space creation in order to make it a desirable destination for new families and to support its current growing population

Where I have concerns are the costs of providing just 36 new spaces If the goal is to create 100 spaces each year, we have to figure out how to do this for less than the $92,000 per space this project will cost. Doing the math, Squamish will need to find tens of millions (with inflation) each year to create new spaces. This is without the cost of the land, I assume. My daycare was recently

required to find an interim home for 50 children while its new leased space was being developed. We leased land and had a modular building constructed to meet licensed daycare regulations. The buildings are functional and create a safe environment for our children The cost, with preparation of the land was approximately $1 million. When we move, we will sell the building to another daycare provider or to a business that can repurpose the modulars My point is, that we really have to think about how we can provide daycare at a much lower cost going forward.

Lindsay Graye Owner of Squamish Montessori School ESTUARY

CROSSING?

Recently, I was just finishing my usual circuit of the Squamish Estuary trail when I came upon a police cruiser parked on the trail just before the final railroad crossing. The officer stepped out of the car and told me I could not cross the railroad line because it was private property with no established pedestrian crossing, and

thus illegal to cross and to do so, I would be liable to a fine.

At the same time, a group of women were just entering the trail from the other end and paused to see what the problem was. One of them approached the officer and received the same information.

We couldn’t believe such a foolish barrier was to be enforced by the police

The estuary is one of Squamish’s most popular and most easily accessed trails, used by many people every day. Surely the police have more serious matters to which they could devote their time If the railroad insists on a pedestrian crossing, the solution is for them to install one.

Sheila Hart Squamish

Editor’s note: As it states on the CN website, walking over or along railways where there is no official crossing is trespassing and illegal. “Railway tracks should only be crossed at designated, authorized crossings. Crossing tracks at any other location is considered trespassing, which is both illegal and dangerous,” the www.cn.ca site reads.

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Have your say at squamishchief.com

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VERY DISSATISFIED 47%

DISSATISFIED 23%

NOT SURE YET 22%

MOST READ STORY

Short-term rental rules in B.C. may leave renters worse off

TOP TIKTOK OF THE WEEK

This week, reporter Andrew Hughes got to hang out with a lot of bees Find this and many other local videos on our TikTok channel, @ squamishchief

PHOTO BY AAFREEN ARORA SPRING FLOWERS: Tulips are blooming around town

SQUAMISH SAR TO BE FEATURED IN DOCU-SERIES

Season 2 of ‘Search and Rescue: North Shore’ will show the Squamish Search and Rescue team in action

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Season 2 of Knowledge Network’s docu-series, Search and Rescue: North Shore, will feature some familiar faces and vistas.

The next iteration of the series is set to debut at the end of May. Episode two of the five-episode season will feature the Squamish Search and Rescue (SAR) team alongside North Shore Rescue (NSR).

“Season 2’s storyline expands further to Squamish, showcasing the courageous efforts of the search and rescue team there,” reads a news release about the series from Knowledge Network.

One of the directors of the series, Grant Baldwin, said in the release the second season will showcase the complexity of some of the rescues performed.

“The complicated retrievals the teams are performing are incredible to see, and we wanted to document more of the process for how these are done—ultimately giving the audience a real sense of what is involved with the rescues they see on the news,” said Baldwin.

“Modern-day innovative technology, equipment and teamwork with other first responder organizations are helping both NSR and Squamish SAR save lives, and we’re proud to continue to highlight these inspiring stories for Season 2.”

A trailer for Season 2 is available online and numerous clips show Squamish’s well-known features, such as the Stawamus Chief.

First airing in 2020, the first season of the show garnered many nominations and awards over the next couple of years. The first episode of Season 2 will air on May 28 and culminate with episode five on June 25 Episodes will be available to stream online for free at knowledge.ca/searchandrescue or on the Knowledge Network app. For more information, visit knowledge.ca

WORKER’SMEMORIAL DAYOFMOURNING

In memory of those whohavelosttheir livesasa result of aworkplace accident or occupational disease

DAYOFMOURNING FORWORKERS

INJURED 0R KILLED ON THE JOB

Please join the Squamish& District Labour Committee

Sunday,April 28that11:00 am

Worker’s Memorial Monument, O’Siem Park, Downtown Squamish

Together we will remember workers whohavelosttheirlives andcommit to fightfor safe workplaces forall.

Everyone WelcomeFor Info:604-898-1559

Please Contact the SPCA for more details! Visit our website: spca.bc.ca

This is Snoop and Martha.

Twoadventurousrabbits in care for almost ayear waitingfor their home. Their favorite pastime is food, food, andmore food. Both will come running when you call them, and they know the sound of the treat bag andare experts with food puzzles True to their names, Snoop is mellow and Martha is abit more setinher ways,but both are social and very entertaining.

To view moreofour adorable pets up foradoption, please visit petfinder.com

SquamishSPCA• 604.898.9890

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SILVAPARK FILMS

Stills from an upcoming episode of ‘Search and Rescue: North Shore,’ which will feature Squamish’s SAR.

SEA TO SKY SINGERS HOSTS CONCERT WITH POETRY AND SINGING

‘Well Versed!’ will see the Squamish choir and local poets perform on April 27 and 28

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Sea to Sky Singers will be hosting a spring concert titled Well Versed! on Saturday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. at St John the Divine Anglican Church on 1930 Diamond Rd According to choir conductor and artistic director, Veronica McPhee, the concert coincides with the celebration of National Poetry Month, even if the overlap was a bit by accident.

“April is Poetry Month. I didn’t actually know it when I made this concert, but this concert is pretty amazing because it’s all about poetry,” McPhee told The Squamish Chief, with a laugh.

Alongside choral arrangements accompanied by Andrea Cotter on piano, there will also be three local poets performing: Emily Buck, Farrah Theresa and Yin Xzi Ho The poets will work with the audience on a poetry slam, typewriter poem and collaborative audience poem

“There’s a lot for people to really engage with,” said McPhee

McPhee described typewriter poetry as off-the-cuff poems created within a few minutes, whereas the poetry slam will see the

audience give the poets certain writing parameters. Finally, the collaborative poem will see the audience jotting down words and phrases as they listen to an instrumental piece which will then be arranged into a poem

The choir has seen a surge in participation in recent years, with the total number of participants averaging about 55 singers in recent months, according to a news release from the choir. McPhee said the age range spans from folks in their 20s to their 80s.

“I’ve been conducting the choir for 21 years now, it has never been this big,” she said.

“It’s a great mix of people who have come for lots of different reasons. Some people who pursue music in lots of different ways in their life, and some people who have been with us for years and years, and then some who have never been in a choir before.”

McPhee said that mix is one of the reasons she loves working with the choir so much

“It is an access point for so many people You can join with a variety of ages and walks of life and experience levels,” she said Tickets for the spring concert are $25 for adults and teens and free for children 12 and under They can be purchased at the door or online at seatoskysingers.net

Stephen L. Milstein, Ph.D.,R.Psych.BC# 765 - 604.938.3511

DawnaDixxMilstein, OT.COTBC #AA0201 - 604.938.3523

Whistler: #107- 4368 Main St, Whistler,B.C.V0N 1B4

Squamish: 604.848.9273

Serving sea to skyfor 18 years

MENS

LADIES

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY DAVID BURKE

The Sea to Sky Singers.

THE STARK REALITY OF SQUAMISH VALLEY’S BATTLE AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND HUMAN NEGLIGENCE

From skyrocketing visitor numbers to illegal activities, what is being done to combat the impact?

JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com

Ared fire extinguisher sits riddled with bullet holes in the brush just metres from where a wildfire threatened the Squamish Valley last May.

It is a perfect, twisted symbol of what can go terribly wrong in this spectacularly beautiful region

Roger Lewis points out other items of debris that are scattered around the site of the May 13 human-caused wildfire at about the 20-kilometre mark of the Squamish River Forest Service Road.

At its height, that blaze grew to 38 hectares in size

Some scattered items have been at the site a long time, but many others have been brought here for target shooting since that wildfire, metres from clear “No Shooting” signs.

There’s a large office chair, road hazard lights, numerous fast food cups and cans—and dozens upon dozens of used shotgun shells from the bullets that ripped into it all.

“The raccoons, ravens and bears, they all get into it. They’re probably getting sick eating whatever is in there,” Lewis said

Lewis rushed to the scene when the wildfire started last spring

He said it was eventually stopped from spreading in great part by the forestry cut block.

“The cut block basically forced the fire last year up the mountain instead of carrying south, next to the road, which potentially could have burned all the way to Squamish,” he said. “Having that break in fuel [the fire] had no choice but to try and run up a rock face where there’s limited fuel, so it basically self-extinguished after a certain time.”

Target shooting isn’t the only issue of concern in the last few years—there’s also the general dumping of trash, poaching and reckless campfires

STEWARD OF THE LAND

Lewis knows these twisting roads and the meandering river of the Squamish Valley like the back of his hand.

He honks and waves, or stops to chat with people he knows and sees along the way.

He grew up with the valley as his backyard and now he recreates and works along the Squamish River and throughout the forest

Lewis, a member of the Squamish Nation, spends countless hours patrolling the region and is worried about the approaching fair-weather season

Lewis was speaking to The Squamish Chief strictly in his role as a steward of the land

However, he also is the superintendent of special projects for Sqomish Forestry, part of Nch’kay Development Corporation, an economic

arm of the Nation.

Lewis is also president of his own forestry company, Saphira Contracting.

Thus, for him and hundreds of others, the region holds economic, environmental, social and intrinsic value.

The Nation holds Tree Farm Licence 38, which includes the watersheds of the Ashlu and Elaho rivers as well as the mid and upper reaches of the Squamish River system

NOT ALL BAD

Lewis stressed that not everyone who visits the region is behaving badly.

For example, while driving past rows of fishers along the Squamish River, he noted that they often help with enforcement, pack out what they bring and are the ears to the ground for those who patrol the valley

But while he welcomes others to visit the land, too many are abusing the privilege, treating it like Disneyland—where someone will pick up after them

Combined with climate change, which is making things drier earlier and weather more volatile, it is a perfect storm of sorts.

Lewis took The Squamish Chief on a tour of just a few of the spots where he has recently seen the land and wildlife treated with disrespect.

USERS TRIPLED

“I would say that the amount of users has tripled in the last two to three years, basically, since the start of the pandemic I think we counted 5,000 people in one weekend,” Lewis said.

He said that since the pandemic, the valley has been busy year-round, not just during the heavy, fair-weather tourist season.

“Ten years ago, people wouldn’t be up here

during the winter. Now, it’s all four seasons,” he said.

And the dumping of garbage is now yearround, too.

“[They bring] truckloads of garbage or they bring washing machines, TVs, propane cans, and they go up there and target shoot with them, “ Lewis said “And then everything is just left behind and a giant mess.”

He said there have also been pool tables and beds that he and other foresters have hauled away

He’s also seen untold numbers of abandoned tents, rubber rafts and floaties in the valley.

He suspects groups from more urban centres spend $400 on gear, which is less than the cost of staying at a local hotel or vacation rental, for the weekend, and then abandon it

“[They don’t] have anywhere to bring it when they go home So, then they just leave everything that they bought out here,” he said Poaching is another long-standing concern in the region, Lewis said

He knows of poached black bears, grizzly bears and elk. In their rush to escape before getting caught, they’ll only take the animal’s hindquarters and leave everything else.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Last August, while the B.C. government had declared a provincial state of emergency, Lewis encountered many people disobeying the law and endangering the environment, themselves and others, including wildlife

“Pretty much every weekend, there’ll be multiple fires, either in the same area or spread out through the valley,” he said

He saw “many” campfires in the area of the Innergex powerhouse station, north of the Ashlu Bridge.

One interaction Lewis had with an individual when he was patrolling for illegal fires during the ban stands out.

“I walked up to someone having a fire. It must have been one o’clock in the morning, and he was asleep next to the fire The fire was just raging The flames must have been eight feet high near the hemlock and cedar, and everything was extremely dry. And I was calling for the guy trying to wake him up,” Lewis recalled. “And when I walked in closer, I noticed he had a 30-30 rifle next to his chair.”

While that was a bit stressful, it is the groups that are more common and concerning, Lewis said.

“That’s multiple people, and nobody’s saying, ‘Hey, it’s a fire ban, let’s not have a fire.’ Everybody’s just accepting it, and they’re fine with it,” he said

The reality is, if there was enough law enforcement, each person at that one fire could face a $1,100 fine, he said

Other times, there are illegal (without getting proper permits) “random raves with hundreds of people.”

In late August last year, in response to folks not adhering to the ban, the provincial government and the Nation, in cooperation with other local and regional authorities, put closures in place for the Upper Elaho and Upper Squamish, meaning no one could go to those areas.

BIGGEST FEAR

Asked his biggest fear, Lewis took a minute to reflect before answering.

“That one of these groups of campers that are lighting up these fires are going to burn down a huge area of the [Nation’s tree farm licence]

VALLEY: Continued on 17

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF

Left to right: A butterfly rests on a rock that is part of the debris of a campfire in the middle of a make-shift illegal target shooting area; nearby rests a shot up fire extinquisher

DON’T LOVE IT TO DEATH

VALLEY: Continued from 16

TFL. And it could possibly carry on along the road all the way back into Squamish. And then the other thing is, the campers themselves, being trapped by these fires, because they spread so fast,” he said.

He added that even when campfires are allowed, people underestimate what they need to do to put them out. What is left in the campfire needs to be cold to the touch, not just doused with water and left

“If it’s not an actual fire pit, like a metal fire pit, the fire can actually burn underground and start burning into roots. And it could be multiple days, even weeks, where the fire will carry on and the root systems burn and then actually burn up into a tree and you won’t even be able to see the smoke and the tree could be burning from the inside.”

SOLUTIONS?

Lewis said the individuals from the various organizations who are involved in enforcement out in the valley are doing their best, but are outnumbered.

These organizations don’t have the personnel needed in great enough numbers to control what is happening in the valley.

He noted that what is seen in the valley is being repeated in other areas, such as up the Mamquam Forest Service Road and throughout the region

“We need more enforcement,” he said

SQUAMISH NATION

Sxwixwtn, Wilson Williams, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) spokesperson and council member, said that the Squamish Valley is “culturally, spiritually, and ecologically significant to Squamish Nation, and we are 100% committed to protecting it.”

“We are currently working collaboratively with the BC Wildfire Service and the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District to enact positive changes regarding outdoor recreational activities in the Squamish River Valley,” he said “The Nation is also continuing with our Land

Guardian Program. Squamish Nation Land Guardians will be out this spring and summer especially on high-traffic long weekends—to monitor, educate and report any illegal activities. The Land Guardians will also work with other enforcement agencies to ensure appropriate actions are taken if illegal activity is detected.”

RCMP

Staff Sgt. Gareth Bradley of the Sea to Sky RCMP said the department does receive funds from the provincial government and the local provincial Natural Resource Office to have an enhanced policing program, but that money only goes so far.

“These funds are limited and we have to be strategic with our time. We will have a presence on the long weekends. At this time, we are unable to have a permanent staffing presence in the Squamish Valley alone,” he said, noting the Sea to Sky Squamish RCMP police from Lions Bay to Daisy Lake with all the mountain terrain and waterways in between.

“It is a huge area.”

Bradley said the RCMP will respond and document the actions happening in the backcountry.

“It is also important to work and share information with our partner agencies like the Natural Resource Office and the Conservation [Officer] Service,” he said Bradley said more provincial funding would be needed to “staff every weekend.”

“Then there would be an increased presence in the backcountry,” he said

Bradley said the message he would like to get across to people coming up to recreate “is basic backcountry preparedness.”

“Be prepared, be safe. Have a plan and tell someone where you’re going. Pack out what you pack in, be responsible in the area, and respect the environment, respect any fire bans that are in place, protect yourself from wildlife conflicts and maintain a clean campsite.”

GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Forests said its top priority is always keeping people safe,

“especially as we see longer wildfire seasons due to climate change causing drier and hotter summers.”

The BC Wildfire Service, in partnership with the Squamish Nation and Sea to Sky Natural Resource District, will be “elevating its presence in the Upper Squamish Valley” this season.

“This includes public education through the wildfire prevention ambassador program and increased patrol through the fire wardens program,” the spokesperson said

Though a total figure for the number of Conservation Officer Service (COS) officers in the corridor wasn’t supplied, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy noted that the COS has enhanced service level agreements with some municipalities and regional districts—including, Squamish and Whistler—whereby those local governments financially support more officers

These agreements supply two wildlife safety response officers, who support conservation officers to reduce human-wildlife conflicts through public education and outreach

Last year, Pique Newsmagazine reported there were five officers in the Sea to Sky Corridor, which means from North Van to Pemberton.

The ministry spokesperson noted that it is important that the public call and report illegal activity because that can help evaluate what resources are needed.

“Calling early and often allows officers to follow up, and the data helps the service allocate more resources to combat the problem.”

The COS and the Natural Resource Office officers are aware of illegal dumping in this area, the spokesperson added.

“The Conservation Officer Service and Natural Resource officers proactively patrol the region as resources to help deter illegal activity such as illegal dumping.”

Officers assess incidents on a case-by-case basis to prioritize illegal dumping “if it is creating a significant environmental or safety issue.”

To report illegal dumping, members of the public are encouraged to contact the 24-hour Report All Poacher or Polluter (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).

A spokesperson for Tourism Squamish said its Destination Steward program seasonally hires three to four full-time stewards, who visit various popular outdoor locations around the Squamish area throughout the summer “to connect with visitors and local recreationists to promote safe, responsible outdoor recreation, assist with visitor dispersion and questions and collect data to support destination planning and decision-making. In addition, the team supports clean-up efforts and various projects in partnership with other organizations.”

The spokesperson also highlighted the Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council, which launched in 2022, that focuses on addressing issues including “illegal camping; the increased need for search and rescue due to poor planning; and the overuse of land, trails, recreation sites, and community assets in both urban and rural locations.”

This council is made up of various partner and stakeholder agencies

The spokesperson also pointed to the council’s “Don’t Love It To Death” campaign, “that reminds outdoor enthusiasts and visitors to be mindful of the impact their behaviour and activities have on delicate ecosystems and communities.”

A robust online campaign and physical signage, for example at trailheads, are part of it

The spokesperson said a new social media campaign blitz, featuring comedian and filmmaker Katie Burrell, will begin before the May long weekend.

(Check out the “Don’t Love It To Death” campaign, and many resources on its website.)

Further, Tourism Squamish has created resources to promote responsible travel in Squamish.

“To help support local conservation efforts, Tourism Squamish does not market or promote sensitive cultural sites or areas struggling with overcrowding We also promote off-peak visitation, meaning we encourage visitors to travel midweek and during Squamish’s quieter spring, fall and winter seasons,” said Lesley Weeks, executive director of Tourism Squamish.

PHOTOS BY (ABOVE) SQUAMISH RCMP, (RIGHT) JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Enforcement agencies like the Squamish RCMP are doing their best, but don’t have the resources to be in the valley every day. (Centre) Signs are clear that target shooting is not allowed, yet it continues.

SORCA OPENS EXPANDED PSEUDO-TSUGA PARKING LOT ON APRIL 19

The lot can now hold about 105 vehicles, which is just off of Garibaldi Park Road

ANDREW HUGHES ahughes@squamishchief.com

Parking for some of Squamish’s most famous mountain biking trails just got a whole lot easier

On Friday, April 19, Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) reopened the expanded parking lot at the bottom of the Stl’lhalem Sintl’ and Pseudo-Tsuga trails on Garibaldi Park Road With the expansion, the lot can now hold approximately 105 vehicles versus about 20 previously.

“SORCA is super stoked about it,” said SORCA’s executive director, Ian Lowe, at the ‘ribbon-cutting’ for the opening that, of course, used recycled bike tubes instead of a ribbon.

“I think all community members are going to be stoked about it. We know from our intercept surveys we did last year that 50% of the people who park in this lot are actually not from Squamish. And so from a tourism, economy perspective, this is also really critical.”

Perhaps a sign of its incoming popularity, mountain bikers and trail runners were already using the new lot just minutes after its official opening.

Lowe said the work could not have been

completed without the help of many people in SORCA and others, including the SquamishLillooet Regional District, Surerus Murphy Joint Venture, Chartwell Resource Group, Coast Valley Contracting and Silverback

Treeworks.

Many representatives from these groups were at the official opening ceremony.

“The really enjoyable part about it was all the community members coming together and

The really enjoyable part about it was all the community members coming together and helping out.

MIKE HEDBERG

helping out,” said Mike Hedberg, the chief operating officer with Chartwell.

The start of the climb trail, Stl’lhalem Sintl’, has shifted slightly into the lot to keep riders and other users away from the Garibaldi Park Road Additionally, a lower section of PseudoTsuga was under repair alongside the parking lot and it is now open for business as well.

Overall, the large expansion of the parking lot only took about five weeks of construction, though Lowe said they had talked about it for years beforehand.

Some minor improvements will also still occur at the lot, such as adding identifiers for accessible parking spots. For now, drivers can park at an angle and travel in a counterclockwise circle in the lot.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW HUGHES/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Inset: Mike Hedberg, second from left, speaks to others at the ribbon cutting for the new parking lot.

Richardson, Leah N.

September 16, 1986 -April1,2021

In Loving Memory of Leah Nicole Richardson

Deeply missed by, parents, David &Karen Richardson, sister Tara and brother in law David DeRusha and her loving nieces, Emma and Amelia. Leah was an auntie, sister and daughter who loved her family deeply. So many wonderful memories and laughs were sharedbefore she was taken too early. Leah will be remembered as aspirited and adventuroussoul who grew up fiercely competitive. With the sense that she could conquer any challenge, she earned the name of Leah "I Can Do It" Richardson.

With one of the most infectious laughs, we can still hear her "Loo Laugh" from across the room today. She blessed so many people who had the opportunity to know her. Our little Loo will be missed tremendously. One comfort is knowing that Leah is in heaven with Grandma, Grandpa and other loved ones who have passed, looking down on us with love.

Leah was born and raisedinSquamish. She loved her sports playing Ringette, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball, Snowboarding, Baseball, running and hiking the Chief. Special family time was sailingonour family sailboat "Hat Trick." She attended Thompson Rivers University and graduated with her BA in Business and Accounting. Leah lived on Vancouver Island and worked in Finance.

Many locals will remember Leah baking in the Bean Cafe. She started when she was 14 and took pride in her scones, muffins and soups. She was afoodie with apassion and was always in the kitchen during family gatherings. We miss her spanakopita, chili and lemon scones.

Leah, remembering you is easy, we do it every day, but the heartache is something that never goes away.

November25, 2001- March 23, 2024

It is withheartfeltsadness that we announce the passing of James AlexanderGray.

James is survived by his Mother Amanda Gray, Grandparents Neill and SandieGray,his Siblings

Mekayla and Ryder of Nanaimo, B.C. and Auston of Squamish, B.C., his Aunt Kerri Gray, Uncles Dave (Stephanie), Mike (Amy), and Andrew (Emma) as well as 11 Cousins and ManyFriends.

James was abright light to anyone he met. He was always willing tolend ahand

James passedaway unexpectedly in his sleep and will be greatly missed. He will always be in ourhearts.

ACelebration Of Life will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 2p.m.atSquamish Funeral Chapel, 40440 TantalusRoad, Garibaldi Highlands, B.C.

•1,2

604-849-2296

ouroffice hasbeen providing exceptional real estate salesand rental accommodation services in the SeatoSky Corridor &throughout BC

CLICKORCALL TO VIEW...

www.prmbc.ca

604.892.5954

Unit 101-38142Cleveland Ave, Squamish JAMESALEXANDER

Armand Constantin (and Family) wouldsincerely like to thank CHRISEVANS, thefella whosaved my lifefromthe fire in my home.

Iwould also like to thankall thekind people whoexpressed theirsympathies.

WE ARE HIRING! CERTIFIEDDENTAL ASSISTANT ($34-37)

CHAIRSIDE ASSISTANT ($25-27)

•Full time or Part time

•EmployeeBenefits

•Noweekends or evenings

•Locally owned and operated family practice

• "BestDentalOffice 2023as votedby readers ofPiqueNewsmagazine"

Pleasesend your resume andalittle aboutyourself to: managercreeksidedentalwhistler@gmail.com.

We’ve got youcovered.

Shelver(Casual)

SummerReadingClub Coordinator (Temp, FT)

ApplybyMay 3, 2024

Construction Labourers

Multimedia Reporter

The SquamishChief

TheSquamish Chief has an openingfor an experiencedand committed journalist who is comfortable in hiking boots.

Thereporter will be tasked to coverlocal news anddriveonline engagement, while working with asmall (but mighty) team basedinone of Canada’s fastest-growing communities, Squamish

Thesuccessful candidate will cover allthingsSquamishin ageneral reporter role both onlineand in print.

Thecandidatewill writeeight to 10 relevant stories per week.

Therole includes some eveningand weekend coverage.

Thesuccessful candidateshouldbeathomecovering Districtcouncil meetings, which areweekly, interviewing businessowners, jumping in aboat to photograph local herring, or heading out to interview someone in the Squamish Valley.

Therole also involvesproducing social media content, suchasregular videos. Youhaveadegree in journalism,are passionateabout community news—in printand online.

Youhavegreat ethics, areself-motivatedand efficient,with acurious, critical mind and an acuteattention to detail.

Youhaveexperience working in anewsroom andadhering to strict deadlines.Other relevant skills include newspaperlayout, copyediting,photography,and video editing.

Ideally, youhaveexperience coveringprovincial court decisions.

Located in the bustling outdoor-obsessedcommunity of Squamish, British Columbia, TheSquamish Chief is an award-winning publication and thepaper of recordfor the community.

To apply for this position, send your resume, threeclippings, orotherrelevant materials, as well as ashort coverletterabout whyyou want to covercommunity news in Squamish, by May 7, 2024,to: JenniferThuncherat jthuncher@squamishchief.com

Compensation is commensurate with skillsand experience ($40,000 -$48,000, and abenefit package).

HYDROVAC OPERATOR -Valid Class1orClass 3with air brakes required. Manual transmission. 2years experiencepreferred. $32-$37 per hour

HEAVYEQUIPMENT OPERATOR,

SCRIBBLE BOX

SUDOKU HOROSCOPE WEEK OF APRIL 25, 2024 - MAY 1, 2024

ARIES

It can take a lot of work to strike the right work-life balance. You’ll have to juggle your schedule to balance work and family responsibilities without disappointing your nearest and dearest, who could be rather demanding.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

You might go on a spontaneous romantic trip this week You’ll need to take a step back to make a difficult decision and sort out your thoughts so you can confidently move forward Don’t forget to incorporate some fun into your daily routine

GEMINI

May 21-June 20

You may need to re-evaluate some of your friendships this week Some of your friends may return the money they owe you, which could help ease some tension.

CANCER

June 21-July 22

July 23-Aug. 22

An error in an invoice will require your attention. You may have to devote time to rectifying the situation and obtaining the appropriate reimbursement. Sometimes, you must take action to correct even the slightest injustice

LEO

Your efforts to be healthier will be rewarded by an appropriate treatment or a new diet offering visible results You’re on the right track to improve your physical and mental well-being.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept 22

You’ll be surprised by a sudden increase in popularity with your clients and on social media. If you’re single, you’ll also notice that people compete for your attention.

TheParish of St.John

theDivine, Squamish

Holy Communion and Morning Worship

Sundays at 10:00 AM

Rev

Cameron Gutjahr

1930 Diamond Road 604-898-5100

www.squamishanglicanchurch.ca

info@squamishanglicanchurch.ca

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

LIBRA

Your family will be top of mind this week Your nearest and dearest could be asking for more attention than usual. You may plan to move if you’re no longer comfortable in your home.

SCORPIO

Oct 23-Nov. 21

Travel is becoming more complicated, and communication isn’t always clear. Your directness and honesty will significantly impact your colleagues or social life You don’t waste time beating around the bush, and although some people may be offended, it’s how you maintain your peace of mind.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

You may face some financial issues this week, but don’t worry. You can resolve these problems by confronting them directly. Take some time to relax and indulge in some self-care.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

You may face some delays at work this week Take some time to slow down instead of getting anxious Focus your efforts to work more efficiently and complete your tasks on time

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb 18

Feb. 19-March 20

You might have to cover for an absent colleague at work, which could cause some stress However, this could lead to a promotion in the future.

PISCES

You’ll have to speak in front of an audience or on social media. You’ll feel a certain satisfaction after receiving positive feedback. However, some people will disagree with you, so be prepared to face criticism, too.

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

Share your PLACE OF WORSHIPwithSquamishfor $10.25/week -Call today to book your spot

604.892.9161