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District of Squamish
—  District Municipality  —
Cleveland Avenue in Squamish
Logo
Location of Squamish in British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°42′6″N 123°09′32″W / 49.70167°N 123.15889°W / 49.70167; -123.15889
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Howe Sound/Sea to Sky Country
Regional District	Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
Government
- Mayor	Greg Gardner
- Governing Body	Squamish Council
- MP	John Weston
- MLA	Joan McInytre
Area
- Total	95.41 km2 (36.8 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population (2006)
- Total	14,949
- Density	149.3/km2 (386.7/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific Time Zone (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
Postal code span	V8B
Area code(s)	604
Website	District of Squamish.BC.ca

Squamish (pronounced /ˈskwɔːmɪʃ/; 2006 census population 14,949) is a community and a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway. The population of the Squamish census agglomeration – including Indian Reserves of the Squamish Nation not governed by the municipality – is 15,256.^[1]

Squamish as a European-Canadian town had its beginning during the construction of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the 1910s. It was the first southern terminus of that railway (now a part of CN). The town remains important in the operations of the line and also the port. Forestry has traditionally been the main industry in the area, and the town's largest employer was the Western Forest Products pulp mill. However, Western Pulp, Squamish Operation permanently ceased operation on January 26, 2006.^[2]. Before the pulp mill, the town's largest employer had been International Forest Products (Interfor) with their sawmill and logging operation, but it closed a few years prior to the pulp mill. In recent years, Squamish has also become popular with Vancouver and Whistler residents' escaping the increased cost of living in those places, both less than one hour away by highway. Tourism is an increasingly important part of the town's economy.

Sḵwxwú7mesh

The Squamish (or Sḵwxwú7mesh in the Squamish language) is the name of the aboriginal people who have inhabited this part of southwest BC (including North and West Vancouver) since before the time of contact with Europeans. Squamish is the English pronunciation of Skwxwú7mesh, the traditional autonym for the people. The name Keh Kait was the traditional name for the site of downtown Squamish.^[3]

The largest village of the Sḵwxwú7mesh in the Squamish area is Chiyakmesh]], which is in the area of Brackendale and is the namesake of the Cheakamus River. Another main village is located near the south entrance of town, St'a7mes, which lies below the Stawamus Chief, which gets its name from that village. Though within municipal boundaries, residents of these Indian Reserves are not governed by the municipality but are members of the Squamish Nation. It also includes villages in North Vancouver and a number of other reserves at Gibsons and elsewhere in the general region.

Activities

The Stawamus Chief

Tourist attractions include the Stawamus Chief, a huge cliff-faced granite massif favoured by rock climbers. As well as over 300 climbing routes on the Chief proper, a majority of which require traditional climbing protection, there are steep hiking trails around the back to access the three peaks that make up the massif, all giving great views of Howe Sound and the surrounding Coast Mountains. In all, between Shannon Falls, Murrin Park, The Malamute, and the Little Smoke Bluffs, there are well over 1200 rock-climbing routes in the Squamish area (and another 300 or so climbs north of Squamish on the road to Whistler). In recent years, Squamish has also become a major destination for bouldering, with over 1000 problems described in the local guidebook.

Squamish and the Squamish Valley from the summit of the Chief

Another activity for which Squamish is well known is mountain biking, with over 600 trails suitable to all abilities surrounding the town. One of the more famous events supported by the Mountain Biking Community is the Test of Metal, a 67-km, cross-country, mountain-bike race held annually in late June. Limited to 800 riders, the 2007 race sold out in under an hour.

Other tourist attractions in Squamish include Shannon Falls waterfall; river-rafting on the Elaho and Squamish rivers; wind surfing and kite surfing at the mouth of the Squamish River; snowmobiling on nearby Brohm Ridge; and bald eagle viewing in the community of Brackendale, which has one of North America's largest populations of bald eagles. Squamish is also a popular destination among Greater Vancouver hikers, mountaineers and backcountry skiers, who visit the large provincial parks in the surrounding Coast Mountains.

Politics

The current mayor of Squamish is Greg Gardner, who won a landslide victory over local celebrity and recycler Terrill Patterson in the election of 2008. Previous mayors include Ian Sutherland (2002-2008, Corinne Lonsdale (1993-2002), Egon Tobus (1990-1993), Phil Turner (1983-1990), William Elliott (1980-1983), Izzy Boscariol (1977-1980) and Pat Brennan (1964-1977). Current council members include Doug Race, Rob Kirkham, Corinne Lonsdale, Bryan Raiser, Paul Lalli and Patricia Heintzman. The municipality is also part of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

On the provincial level, Squamish is in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky electoral district. The MLA is Joan McIntyre (BC Liberal). She was first elected in the 2005 provincial election and re-elected in the 2009 provincial election.

Federally, Squamish is a part of the West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country electoral district. It is represented by John Weston (Conservative Party of Canada), who took office during Canada's 2008 federal election.

Education

Squamish has six elementary schools: Brackendale, Garibaldi Highlands, Mamquam, Squamish Elementary, Stawamus Elementary and Valleycliffe Elementary. There are two secondary schools — Howe Sound Secondary School and Don Ross Secondary School — as well as the board office for School District 48 Howe Sound.

Capilano University offers post-secondary education through its Squamish campus, including diploma programs and university transfer courses. Quest University Canada opened in September 2007. It is Canada's first private, non-profit, secular university. Squamish Montessori School offers 3-6 year olds a full AMI based Montessori preschool education.

Cedar Valley School is an independent kindergarten and elementary school, certified by the BC government, offering a Waldorf-inspired curriculum.

Social and cultural

Squamish is home to a variety of faiths. There are eleven churches and religious organizations, including several Christian denominations, as well as the Bahá'í Faith, and a Sikh temple.

Squamish was the primary filming location of ABC's romantic comedy-drama television series Men In Trees and was featured prominently in a Season 4 episode of the American television series Supernatural titled "Wishful Thinking". It is also currently the filming location for Global TV's drama/action series The Guard.

In 1998, Squamish was briefly the home of the world's first unionized McDonald's franchise, although the union was decertified by the summer of 1999.

Climate

Squamish is one of the wettest locations in Canada, with nearly 2400 mm of rainfall per year, often falling in long stretches through the winter. Snow is not typical in winter, but can fall in heavy amounts with 50-cm accumulations not uncommon, although it often melts quickly.

Transit

Public transportation is provided by the Squamish Transit System. There is also bus service to Whistler provided by the Whistler and Valley Express.

Notable Squamish residents

• Mike Carney, now a realtor, is a former ski racer who had been a member of the Canadian Olympic downhill ski team [1]
• Mike Sweeney, who grew up in Squamish, competed in the 1984 Olympics with Team Canada in the sport of soccer.
• Neal Kindree, World Cup mountain bike racer.^{[citation needed]}
• Linda Firbank: 2008 Recipient of the Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence in the category of Skills Training & Career Prep.[2]
• Daniel Cudmore - actor
• Jesse Pettersen - Professional Long Drive golfer, placed 4th at 2007 Remax World Long Drive Championship.^[5]
• Hilary Lindh - US Olympic silver medalist at the 1992 Albertville Winter Games.
• Maëlle Ricker - Canadian Olympic gold medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games in the Snowboard Cross.

Notes

External links

• District of Squamish
• Squamish Chamber of Commerce
• The Official Site of Tourism Squamish
• Business Development and Investment in Squamish
• School District No. 48 Howe Sound
• The Squamish Chief – Squamish's Newspaper
• Climbing in Squamish
• The Squamish Access Society - protecting public access to Squamish climbing areas
• Quest University Canada
• Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival - Squamish's Largest Community Festival

	Squamish River	Whistler	Garibaldi Provincial Park
	Tantalus Range		Garibaldi Ranges
		Squamish
	Howe Sound	Lions Bay	North Shore Mountains

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Coordinates: 49°42′06.2″N 123°09′31.5″W / 49.701722°N 123.15875°W / 49.701722; -123.15875

From Wikitravel

Squamish is in British Columbia. Located half-way between Vancouver and Whistler, Squamish calls itself "The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada" due to the abundant Rock Climbing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Golf, Fishing, Kayaking, Bouldering, White Water Rafting, Horseback Riding, Scuba Diving, and other activities readily available in the area.

Get in

Squamish is on Highway 99, 44 km North of Vancouver. From Vancouver, head north over either the Lions Gate Bridge or the Second Narrows Bridge. If you are on the Second Narrows Bridge, stay on Highway 1 through Horseshoe Bay, keeping right as you approach the BC Ferry Terminal. Highway 99 starts here - Just follow the signs for Squamish and Whistler. From The Lion's Gate Bridge, get onto Marine Drive heading towards West Vancouver, turn right on Taylor Way after you loop around under the bridge, head up the hill and turn left onto Highway 1 towards Horseshoe Bay. This is all well signed.

The "Greyhound Bus" travels between Vancouver and Whistler six to seven times per day, stopping in Squamish.

• BC Museum of Mining, Forbes Way, Britannia Beach (11 km south of Squamish, just off of Highway 99), ☎ 1-800-896-4044 (toll-free) or +1 604 896-2233, [1]. Open daily 9AM-4:30PM. Once the largest copper producer in the British Empire, this mine turned museum offers outstanding insight into how mining worked a hundred years ago. Guided tours include a train ride in the mine tunnels and are available regularly throughout the summer. Self-guided: $7.50; tours: $12/$14/$18.50 (youth/students & seniors/adult).  edit

• In winter, Squamish hosts thousands of Bald Eagles who winter here and feast on the plentiful salmon coming up the rivers to spawn. On any given day between mid-November and late February it is usually easy to see dozens of eagles if you go for a walk in the right place. The most popular viewing area is Eagle Run on Government Road. Turn west off Highway 99 at Garibaldi Way. This is a right turn if you are coming from Whistler, and a right turn from the south [Petrocan, 7-11, and Husky mark the corner]. Turn right on Government at the T-junction 30 metres later, and wind down the road about 1km. There is ample parking next to the Easter Seal Camp/Camp Summit area. Eaglewatch volunteers staff the viewing area on the dyke on some days and sometimes there are telescopes set up at the interpretive centre.

• Shannon Falls Provincial Park, Highway 99 & Shannon Falls Park Rd (turn at the lights 2 km south of Squamish). Shannon Falls are the third highest falls in British Columbia at 335 meters. The main trail is a ten minute walk from the parking lot to a viewpoint at the bottom of the falls. There are also other hiking trails in the park and some rock climbing routes.  edit

• West Coast Railway Heritage Park, 39645 Government Rd, ☎ +1 604 898-9336, [2]. 10AM-5PM. A treasure trove of old train paraphernalia reflecting Western Canada's Heritage. The star attraction is "The Royal Hudson", a steam train currently being restored there, but there are a variety of cars and locomotives to see and tour. The 3 km miniature train ride is good fun for kids of all ages. $8.50/$10 (students & seniors/adult).  edit

Stawamus Chief

Rock Climbing - Squamish is world renowned among climbers. The towering granite monolith, the Stawamus Chief, serves as the primary draw. There are over 600 established routes in the area, most of them traditional in nature, requiring the placement of gear for protection. There are many sport routes in the area with fixed/bolted protection though the majority of sport climbing in the area is along the Squamish-Whistler corridor. The boulders lodated at the base of the Stawamus Chief are starting to attract many climbers. This is to be partially attributed to the Climbing DVD 'Rampage' staring Chris Sharma. There are several quality guide books available for the established climbers as well as several commercial guides for hire.

Rafting - Squamish has amazing rafting on the Elaho and Squamish Rivers a mere 25 miles north of the town in the Squamish Valley. The rapids are class 3 and 4, including the spectacular "Devils Elbow". Canadian Outback Adventures [3] is the primary outfitter in this region.

Eat

Along Highway 99 you'll find the usual fastfood fare with a higher concentration near the city center exit.

• North Beach Lounge & Grill 37801 Cleveland., (604) 892-2603. (at the Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Co) [4]

• Chieftain Pub. 38005 Cleveland, (604) 892-9119.
• Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company 37801 Cleveland Ave.
• Cliffside Neighbourhood Pub 1893 Maple, (604) 892-5955. Pool, Kareoke, Bingo. Music Friday and Saturday nights.

• Sea To Sky Hotel [5] is a full service hotel located on Highway 99 in the northern part of the town.
• August Jack Motor Inn, 37947 Cleveland Avenue, ☎ (604) 892-3504‎, [6]. Located between Vancouver and Whistler, golf, and or ski  edit

• Sea to Sky - the corridor that runs from Vancouver to Whistler holds many sightseeing and recreation possibilities
• Whistler

Cache Creek ← Whistler ←

N  S

→ North Shore → Vancouver