Want to get something off your chest, angry with local government, angry with most things and just looking for a place to vent?
Photo by Dana-Marie Battaglia
File Photo
Well Squamish District council has graciously volunteered their time to be that lightning rod for you the people- they do ask however that you keep the rotten tomatoes to a minimum.
The first of regular planned town hall meetings will be held tonight (June 23) at 7 pm at Eagle Eye Theatre and the floor is open to most topics.
Although the S Block debate is expected to dominate the agenda, with the centre piece of the S Block proposal being a 17-storey tower – that is a District proposal not a developer proposal. In fact it is rumoured the developer would prefer to go with the original plan, as out lined in the downtown neighbourhood plan, of building four to six storey buildings.
So why does the District want 17-storeys, come down tonight and find out, if nothing else we guarantee it will be the best free entertainment you get all year.
Click here for the complete race results - NOTE: Some times need verification.
Near perfect conditions lead to a spectacularly fast North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal and new course record. Max Plaxton easily won his second consecutive Test of Metal in a time of 2:30:10 (unofficial), more than one minute better than last year's time. Plaxton led from tape to tape and took all 10 primes as well as the winner's prize for a $1500 pay day. On the women's side, Catherine Pendrel matched Plaxton's achievement with lightning fast 2:50:40 (unofficial) taking 30 minutes off her winning time of 2007. Pendrel also took all 10 primes and the first place prize for $1500. In magnanimous fashion, however, she donated $100 of her prime earnings to both the top male and top female Squamish rider. Duane Kress was the top Squmaish male rider and took 5th place overall. At this time the top Squamish female rider is yet to be determined. Because of a timing difficulty, race results are unofficial at the moment and further results are pending. Full results should be posted on the Test of Metal webpage soon.
Catch an important movie night at the Adventure Centre this Monday June 22 at 7pm. After watching a film in the series 'We are all in the melting pot' entitled 'Water, our draining habits' Councillors, District staff, and experts on different aspects of water will be joining the conversation to learn about water management practices around the world, and to discuss our relationship with our water resources in the local context – come, hear and be heard.
Is it really important to conserve water? If so, why?
Do you think our water should be managed? If so, how, and who should pay for it?
Water metering – hate it or love it?
How valuable are our wetlands? Aren’t they really “wastelands” that we may just as well exploit and develop?
Do you think you already have the right answers to all these questions? Well, come and share them with us. And if you have a friend who holds a discordant voice, or a neighbor who insists on watering the flowerbeds right after a downpour, bring them along – tell them they have nothing to lose; the event is free… unlike our water.
Who are you becoming?
Written by Ross Tayler
Friday, 19 June 2009 12:17
In the last 3 years as I have been building my Life Coaching practice the question that comes up the most is; "What is Life Coaching?" This can be a difficult question to answer because the answer will be different for everyone in relation to what they are wanting and needing to experience. The other thing is that it is not a tangible product that you can pick up and look at and experience and try on in a way that is safe for you. What I mean by that is that you can go to a clothing store and try something on in the privacy of a dressing room and nobody needs to know what that experience was for you.
Squamish Adventure Centre may soon be: Telus Adventure Centre?
Written by Alan Forsythe
Friday, 19 June 2009 08:59
The District’s finance committee has been directed by Council to investigate sponsorship opportunities for the Adventure Centre.
That generally means corporate naming rights for the building, such as Whistler’s Telus Conference Centre, although at least two councillors were hesitant to move forward on the proposal.
“We haven’t even had the discussion if we want to go that route, aren’t we putting the cart before the horse?” Asked Councillor Patricia Heintzman.
Councillor Bryan Raiser brought up the issue of the future use of the building itself and what impact that would have on corporate naming rights – would the Adventure Centre be the Adventure Centre or serve some other purpose?
We invite you to join us in this final phase of identifying specific goals for the coming years and program areas needed to accomplish them. This session is open to all – anyone interested in taking action on environmental issues or projects in Squamish!
We will build on ideas put forward so far, clarify the mission statement and create a vision for what we want to achieve in the next five years. This will also be an opportunity for members to vote on adoption of the new working name, GreenSquamish. If you can make it for only part of the day or to vote it would still be great to see you. The summary of the day and vote will be at 4pm. You can also give feedback on the name and direction of the society to the board by email at
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Strategic Planning Invitation:
Final Workshop day, June 21st, 9-5pm, facilitated by director Sandra Bicego.
Please register with Catherine at
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- we will be ordering lunch and can organize carpooling for everyone.
residents pack Muni Hall to hear cougar report
Written by Alan Forsythe
Thursday, 18 June 2009 09:09
Photo by Donna Battaglia Conservation Officers address a room packed with concerned residents.
On the heels of a cougar attack on a three year old girl in Brackendale Tuesday night (June 16) and numerous other sightings and confrontations, frightened residents were looking for answers last night from local conservation officers.
Municipal Hall on Second Avenue was packed to overflowing as conservation officer Chris Doyle began his presentation. He began by stating what most people are already aware of, that cougar sightings and incidents have jumped dramatically in the past three weeks.
“The recent incidents were Friday night when a lady had her dog snatched off its leash by a cougar. The next morning that animal was tracked by dogs and destroyed, it was an emaciated female.”
Then last night a young girl was attacked, her mother acted appropriately and pried the cougar off of her daughter. The girl suffered superficial injuries and we acted immediately,” said Doyle.
He said six officers and two dog teams responded to the call, plus auxiliary RCMP officers were called out to warn other pedestrians in the area. The cougar was tracked and an hour and a half after the attack another cougar was destroyed, this time a young male in good condition. He added that a DNA analysis will be done to confirm this was in fact the cougar that attacked the little girl.
However two destroyed cougars does not necessarily mean an end to cougar encounters, Doyle said based on other incidents and their timing conservation officers estimate there are four cougars currently stalking the Squamish area.
“We thought the Chief trail cougar was the same as the one encountered in Valleycliffe, but then we had another call in Valleycliffe as we were tracking the Chief trail cougar. I believe there are still a couple of cougars in town – that could increase or decrease. It appears what we are encountering are young inexperienced hunters trying to survive.”
Youtube Cougar video gets 8 thousand hits in 2 days
Written by Dana-Marie Battaglia
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 22:11
In the last 48 hours, this Youtube video has received over 8,000 hits. Squamish Online is posting it with the permission of the owner. The person shooting this video has just come across a stranger whose dog was attacked by a cougar on one of The Chief's trails, Saturday morning July 13, 2009. Reports have indicated that the dog sadly passed away a couple days later.
A cougar in the Eagle Run area of Squamish attacked a three-year old girl early last night.
The girl was taken to Squamish General Hospital suffering from lacerations to his face and body; her condition is stable.
This caps a week of Cougar sightings in the area, specifically close to human habitation in the Valleycliffe and Brackendale neighbourhoods of Squamish as well as on the popular Stawamus Chief trail.
Since last weekend local police and conservation officers have been using dogs in an attempt to track the cougar or cougars and relocate it (them).
Due to the recent Cougar sightings and attacks, Squamish Online has created a Wild Life Sightings Map. The public is invited to submit markers on locations where cougars or other dangerous animals have been spotted. Please keep yourselve's, children, and pets safe by avoiding these areas and/or using caution. The map can be found here as well as by clicking the link on the Top Right Side of this page.
IF YOU SEE A COUGAR, CALL 1-877-952-7277 IMMEDIATELY TO REPORT IT. In all cases, this should take precedence over putting a marker on this map. This map is by Squamish Online and is not sanctioned by the Wildlife Conservation Department.
Stay calm and keep the cougar in view. Pick up children immediately - children frighten easily, the noise and movements they make could provoke an attack. Back away slowly, ensuring that the animal has a clear avenue of escape. Make yourself look as large as possible. Keep the cougar in front of you at all times.
