Our Community

Location and General Information

The District of Squamish is located in the southwest corner of the Province of British Columbia, just north of the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area and south of the resort community of Whistler. It sits in a spectacular natural setting at the north end of Howe Sound, in a scenic valley nestled amongst the Coast Mountain. The community offers small town atmosphere, affordable housing, unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation, and a wide range of amenities. It is serviced by a deepwater port, CN Rail, Highway 99 (the Sea-to-Sky Highway), and a general aviation airport.

History

The name Squamish is adapted from Sko-mish, the name of the native nation that occupied the valley for at least 5,000 years. The name has a general meaning of “strong wind” or “birthplace of the winds” in Coast Salish, and is testimony to the winds that rise from the south before noon and blow steadily until dusk. Today, it is celebrated as one of the top three windsurfer destinations of North America.

Climate

Squamish experiences moderate West Coast climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.

Population

Squamish's estimated 2007 population hovers around 15,000 and is an increase of about 4,600 people since 1985. Population has increased by 2.1% per year over this time period, which is faster than the British Columbia growth rate of 1.9% per year.

Growth has been much slower throughout the province since 1997, although it is expected to accelerate rapidly in Squamish in the buildup to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Regional Population

Squamish is part of the most dynamic and fastest-growing region in British Columbia. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (similar to a US county) grew by an average of 3.2% per year from 1985 to 2003. The larger Lower Mainland region, which also includes the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley Regional Districts, has grown by 2.4% per year, which is also faster than the provincial average of 1.9%.

Canada grew at a 1.1% annual rate. The Lower Mainland accounted for 58% of British Columbia's total population in 2003 and has added an average of more than 46,000 people per year since 1985. It has accounted for 71% of provincial growth in this time period.

Housing

Amongst eight distinct neighbourhoods, housing ranges from apartments, townhouses, acreage, to executive ocean view homes.

Squamish's housing stock is newer on average than the rest of BC and the neighbouring Greater Vancouver metropolitan area. As of the 2001 Census, more than 25% of occupied private dwellings in Squamish had been constructed since 1991. Relative to the rest of the province, Squamish has a much higher share of dwellings constructed in the 1970s, slightly more from the 1960s, and fewer from the 1980s and the pre-1960 period. Nearly 35% of the housing stock was constructed in the 1971-1980 period, which is the most of any single decade.

Squamish homes also average more rooms (6.6) and more bedrooms (2.9) than the provincial and Greater Vancouver averages.

Community Links

District of Squamish
www.district.squamish.bc.ca/residents/Community_links/

Squamish Chamber of Commerce
www.squamishchamber.com/chamber_of_commerce.php

Community Futures Development Corp. of Howe Sound
www.cfdchs.com

Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project
www.seatoskyimprovements.ca

Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp.
www.squamishoceanfront.com