The Extreme fire hazard has now ended and the Whistler Olympic Park is once again fully open to the public for all summer programs 9:00am to 4:00pm 7 days a week until August 31,.
• Self Guided tours. These tours will give you a view of all 3 stadiums and the beautiful Day Lodge from the paved road and parking lots.
• Disc golf, mountain biking, hiking and exploring on the trails.
• Ski Jump Tours and Biathlon Experience (shoot a Biathlon rifle) program on Saturdays and Sundays only.
• Brandywine Restaurant in the Day Lodge will be serving meals Saturdays and Sundays only.
* Please note there may be some disruption in access to some parts of Whistler Olympic Park due to Games time construction projects that have already started. Please check with us for updated information.
District of Squamish Open Fire Ban Lifted
Written by Submitted
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 15:17
The District of Squamish Fire Rescue lifted the open fire ban within it's jurisdiction as a result of recent rainy, cooler weather.
The open fire ban was put in effect July 23, 2009 due to the long stretch of hot, dry weather raising the fire hazard to “Extreme”. The ban applied to all open fires, campfires, wood-burning pits, and backyard fireplaces.
“The recent rain and cooler temperatures have reduced the threat of fire throughout the District,” said Fire Chief Ray Saurette. “We appreciate the cooperation of residents and visitors during the fire ban.”
While the ban on campfires has been lifted for Squamish, the community is reminded that the threat of forest fires is still present and is asked to continue to report abandoned burning campfires and forest fires.
Those travelling into the backcountry should check for restrictions in the area in which they wish to travel. For BC Parks restrictions visit www.bcparks.ca and restrictions for lands beyond the District of Squamish visit the BC Forest and Range Protection Branch website at www.bcwildfire.ca
Deputy Fire Chief Steve Virgint Retires
Written by Submitted
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 15:11
The District of Squamish announced today that Deputy Fire Chief Steve Virgint has retired from Squamish Fire Rescue, effective July 31, 2009.
Deputy Chief Virgint joined the department as a volunteer in 1977, became a full time firefighter in 1982, then rose through the ranks from Firefighter, to Lieutenant to Captain and then Deputy Fire Chief in 2001.
"Steve’s dedication to the fire service has been a cornerstone in building a professional and highly trained department and we are all beneficiaries of his long and exemplary career,” said Mayor Greg Gardner. “I would like to express our sincere appreciation for Steve's 32 years of hard work, countless late nights and tireless energy.”
It is expected that Virgint will continue to serve Squamish and the region as a volunteer for Squamish Fire Rescue.
Squamish gets 2010 Olympic Coordinator.
Written by Submitted
Thursday, 06 August 2009 19:24
District of Squamish Mayor Greg Gardner and Dan Doyle, Squamish Olympic Liaison for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced the appointment of Mr. Jason Cameron as VANOC’s 2010 Olympic Coordinator for Squamish.
“I am pleased to have Mr. Cameron join our organization as a liaison between the District of Squamish and VANOC,” said Mayor Greg Gardner. “This appointment shows VANOC’s commitment to Squamish and that Squamish plays an important role in delivering a successful 2010 Winter Olympic Games. We look forward to working more closely with VANOC and having Mr. Cameron onboard helps ensure we move forward together and together put on the best Winter Olympic Games,” continued Mayor Gardner.
The District of Squamish Council helped break ground for the Riverstones Project, an affordable housing development in Squamish. Working with the Provincial and Federal government, and Bethel Land Corporation, the groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction of the 84-unit housing development for seniors, low income families, and people with accessibility challenges.
Council initially supported the Riverstones project located at 39766-39780 Government Road in November 2008 when the project was presented to Council by the developer. Since then, through careful review of the proposal throughout the application process, Council identified the strong merits of bringing 84 new rental units into the Squamish housing continuum.
The long awaited District OCP finally passed First Reading this week, just in time for Council’s summer break.
“We set the challenge of bringing this forward before the break and we accomplished that. It was difficult but we have a forward thinking document, we’ll be one of the few municipalities to incorporate GHG reductions in our OCP,” said Mayor Greg Gardner.
In presenting the OCP bylaw to council District Planner Cameron Chalmers called it a milestone night.
“In the past six years we have been engaged in a very through revue of our community. Just to give some perspective – Waterfront Landing was still a saw mill when we began this and the oceanfront lands, although under remediation were not owned by the District,” said Chalmers. He added that the “expansive and exhaustive process,” evolved to incorporate Smart Growth on the Ground principles that has now become the guiding principle of many communities large and small. “We discovered a lot about the values of the community. There are different ideas on how the community should grow and where and how fast. However we’re very pleased to be at the end of the process and able to bring forward a plan that balances the need to grow and economic prosperity with environmental impact.”
On Friday, July 31at 7:00pm Euphoric Event Solutions is presenting the Mountain FM Concert 4 A Cure.
Every day an estimated 4,100 Men, Women, and Children die in sub-Saharan Africa from AIDS. There is no need for this crisis when we have prevention and treatment.
Concert 4 A Cure is a benefit concert to help raise awareness, and more importantly money so that those who are suffering can receive the necessary treatment and begin The Lazarus Effect.
4 Bands will be taking the stage at the Eagle Eye Theatre in Squamish including Ali Milner, Kostaman, Rachel Thom, and Vancouver's Goodbye Beatdown. Also featuring an after party in the foyer with music.
100% of all proceeds from this event will benefit the Global Fund in support of the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa.
July 2nd - August 3rd, 2009 - Two Combinations of Four Artists Coming Down to Earth
Walls: Paul Boultbee + Glynis Wilson Boultbee’s collaboration over the word “strata” inspiring Paul’s paintings which are reflected in Glynis’s poems. This Albertan duo examines earth, layers and segments of society in organic conceptual description.
Abstract artist Paul Boulbee is as relaxed as his unpretentious collage and “surface” paintings. Intially a passionate professional actor, Paul is a librarian along with, more recently, an emerging visual artist graduating from Red Deer College’s Visual Art program. Using mainly earthy, natural tones with stratums of texture, this series is quite obviously inspired by archaeology and anthropology – an exploration of varied techniques and subject matter.
Paul has been referred to by Glynis as an interesting juxtaposition: “Librarians work within pretty clear structures and rules. Artists thrive on the tension between order and disorder, structure and chaos.”
The Cougar hype may have faded over the last week since the destruction of 2 cougars but sightings are still being reported in residential areas and on popular trails. On Thursday night (July 2), a cougar was spotted on the corridor trail along Loggers Lane. This adds to a number of sightings which were reported in this area over the last few weeks. Be alert when passing through this area. Click here to find out what to do if you spot a cougar. Click here to go to Squamish Online's wildlife sightings map, to see where other cougars have been spotted recently.
Ski development threatens BC Community, Wildlife, Environment
Written by Submitted
Sunday, 05 July 2009 13:50
Dear Editor,
Grizzly bears, wolverine, mountain goats, salmon, steelhead, other wildlife would be put at risk.
A massive ski resort proposal near Squamish, British Columbia would threaten the quality of life for area residents, wildlife, and the environment. The planned development, Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS), first submitted to the BC’s Environmental Assessment Office in 1997 and recently resurrected, would cover an area roughly half the size of Squamish. The development would:
*Include two golf courses, 25 ski lifts, 98 km of roads, hotels, and nearly 6,000 new homes, apartments, and condominiums.
*Include 500,000 square feet of commercial space that would compete with Squamish businesses.
Britannia Beach, June 30 2009: The BC Museum of Mining (BCMM) have launched an advanced new
website offering a host of multimedia features and downloadable material. With online archival images and historical newsletters, www.bcmm.ca is the place to learn about the history and the future of BC Mining.
The new website introduces the Museum’s fresh new look and was created to enhance communication with visitors, students and teachers, and history enthusiasts looking to learn more about the Britannia Beach community, current exhibits and collections, and mining in BC.
