Squamish, British Columbia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Squamish
Cleveland Avenue in Squamish
Location of Squamish within the Squamish-Lillooet District in British Columbia, Canada
Area	95.41 km² (36.84 sq mi)
Population	14,247 (2001)
Pop'n density	149.3/km² (386.7/sq mi)
Location	49°42′06.2″N, 123°09′31.5″W
Elevation	m (Expression error: Unexpected * operator feet)
Incorporation	--
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	Squamish-Lillooet
MP	Blair Wilson
MLA	Joan McInytre
Mayor	Ian Sutherland
Governing Body	Squamish Council
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
Postal code	V8B
Area Code	+1-604
District of Squamish.BC.ca
British Columbia Portal

Squamish (2001 census population 14,247) is a community in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway.

Contents 1 Sḵwxwú7mesh 2 Activities 3 Mayors 4 Education 5 Religion 6 Culture 7 External links 8 Surrounding municipalities

[edit] Sḵwxwú7mesh

Main article: Sḵwxwú7mesh

The Sḵwxwú7mesh, (or Squamish) is the name of the Indigenous or First Nations people who have inhabited at this part of southwest BC (including North and West Vancouver) since before the time of contact with Europeans.

Previously named Newport, Squamish is the European pronunciation of Skwxwú7mesh, the traditional name. The translation of Skwxwú7mesh's is "people of great drinking water".

[edit] Activities

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 Granite Face, a majority of which are take traditional climbing protection as well as sport climbing, there are also steep hiking trails around the back to access the three peaks that makeup 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 600 rock climbing routes in the Squamish area.

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 in late June every year. It is limited to 800 riders and 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; and bald eagle viewing in the nearby 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 due to the multiple vast provincial parks in the surrounding Coast Mountains.

[edit] Mayors

• 2002-current Ian Sutherland
• 1993-2002 Corrine Lonsdale
• 1990-1993 Egon Tobus
• 1983-1990 Phil Turner

[edit] 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 College offers post-secondary education through its Squamish campus, including diploma programs and university transfer courses.

Quest University Canada, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in September 2007. It will be Canada's first private, non-profit, secular university.

[edit] Religion

Squamish is home to a variety of faiths. There are eleven churches and religious organizations, from several Christian denominations, as well as Bahá'í Faith, a Sikh temple, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[edit] Culture

Squamish is also a filming location of the popular ABC's romantic comedy-drama television series Men In Trees.

[edit] External links

• District of Squamish
• Howe Sound School District
• Sea To Sky News, Squamish's Independent Free Newspaper
• Climbing in Squamish
• The Squamish Chief – Squamish's Newspaper
• The Squamish Access Society - protecting public access to Squamish climbing areas
• Imagine the Sea to Sky Corridor, part of Simon Fraser University's Imagine BC series

[edit] Surrounding municipalities

		Whistler Brackendale	Garibaldi Provincial Park
			Garibaldi Ranges
		Squamish
	Howe Sound	Lions Bay	North Shore Mountains

Coordinates: 49°42′06.2″N, 123°09′31.5″W