DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH
2022 Annual Report Message from the Mayor This Annual Report captures the 2022 activities of the District of Squamish staff and Council. I am both honoured and proud to have been a part of the 2018-2022 Council and to be serving alongside my Council colleagues as Mayor for the 20222026 term. Squamish is a busy place, and the Council table is no exception, I’ll do my best here to capture some highlights.
Although the pandemic is mostly behind us, its effects of cost escalations, supply chain challenges and a high rate of inflation had real impacts in 2022. Critical needs in our community could not wait and staff continued to work to meet these needs despite turbulent times. In 2022, the District completed the Alex Munro Fire Hall No.1, the first of three critical facilities identified for priority replacement in the 2019 Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan. Construction of Fire Hall No. 2 is well underway, as is pre-construction site prep for a new Public Works facility, and Brennan Park Recreation Centre is scheduled for a $16.3M upgrade largely thanks to $11.7M in federal funding. Next steps will include further Brennan Park investments and consider the future of Municipal Hall and the Library. The District’s 2022 Asset Management Plan will ensure our assets receive appropriate resourcing throughout their service life and their end-of-life replacement is planned for. Accompanying this is the District’s first ever Natural Asset Management Strategy that recognizes the value of natural assets to our community. These strategies combine to form new thinking of how our assets deliver services to the community and the tremendous value our natural assets provide.
NEW FIRE HALL NO.1 COMPLETED FIRST OF THREE CRITICAL FACILITIES IDENTIFIED FOR PRIORITY REPLACEMENT
FIRE HALL NO.2 STARTED EXPECTED COMPLETION MID-2024
25,179 +3.8%
2022 POPULATION ESTIMATE (STATS CANADA) OVER 2021
The Climate Emergency declared in 2019 continued to be at the forefront of our work and, as of 2022, 75% of the actions outlined in the District’s Community Climate Action Plan are already underway or complete. Examples of its implementation are the gas capture and flare installation at the landfill, higher building efficiency standards, outreach and education on electric vehicle adoption, residential and construction waste diversion efforts, enabling local employment opportunities and many other actions. Recognizing our own role in reducing community greenhouse gas emissions related to buildings, transportation and waste, the District is holding itself to the objectives outlined in the Municipal Energy and Emissions Plan to be responsible and highlight to industry what is possible. The affordability and attainability of housing in our community is a complex and far-reaching issue. The District has been taking every opportunity to positively impact this by securing below-market rentals during rezonings, working to increase the diversity of housing forms in our neighbourhoods, establishing the Squamish Community Housing Society, supporting construction of purpose-built rentals, working in partnership with non-profits and government agencies to deliver affordable homes, and secure childcare spaces where possible to address the need for access to quality, affordable childcare in our community. The recently opened Spirit Creek complex exemplifies what can be achieved when multiple entities work together. This project involved the District of Squamish, Sea to Sky Community Services, Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Housing and delivered 76 affordable apartments, a new Youth Hub as well as Foundry youth health services. This shows what is possible when we work together, and with much more work to do, all of us at the District look forward to working for you and with you to achieve our goals.
BRENNAN PARK RECREATION CENTRE UPGRADE PROJECT
$16.3M
INCLUDES $11.7M FEDERAL GRANT RECEIVED TOWARDS INCREASED PROGRAM SPACE, ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, ICE RINK CHANGEROOM RETROFIT, NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA AND SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES.
SECOND GRANT APPLIED FOR, AWAITING APPROVAL
226 $246.5M
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED
CONSTRUCTION VALUE
6% DECREASE FROM 2021
$12.4M
91 of 122 COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ACTIONS IN PROGRESS (58 COMPLETE OR ONGOING; 33 INITIATED).