The department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada said there are no plans to close the Squamish office next year, but the current office’s lease will end in 2019.
“The lease for the DFO Squamish field office is being terminated by the property owner and the building is being sold,” said spokesperson Leri Davies in an email.
The department’s current Squamish office is located at 1120 Hunter Place behind Squamish Station. The owner of the building has given the government an end date on the lease in 2019.
“Personnel will be relocated prior to the spring 2019 deadline to vacate, and the intention is to keep resources and capacity in the local area. No employees are losing their jobs due to this change and Conservation and Protection will continue to provide robust compliance and enforcement activities in the Howe Sound area while options are being considered.”
The office on Hunter Place is currently open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The building is owned by a company called Hunter Place Developments Inc. The Squamish Chief was unable to reach the company to confirm the lease arrangement.
The DFO has four other Lower Fraser field offices including Chilliwack, Langley, Steveston, Mission.
A number of hatcheries, including the Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery in the Squamish Valley, are also included under the Pacific region.
