After living in Squamish for 21 years and working with The Squamish Chief for more than a decade, Laila Michell has been promoted to publisher.
Michell has moved through The Chief's hierarchy swiftly since she started as an accounting assistant in 1999.
By 2008 she had experience in several aspects of the newspaper's life - regional accounting manager, sales, general manager and associate publisher.
When former publisher Tim Shoults left in July, it was assumed Michell would fall naturally into his place. But she's the first to admit he's a hard act to follow.
"It is hard to fill the shoes of Tim Shoults," said Michell. "He had so much knowledge about The Chief, but with the training he has given me, I am ready take on this new position.
"I am excited to take our award winning newspaper to even bigger and better things in the future, and look forward to The Chief continuing to be part of this wonderful community we call home."
Michell said a major component of The Chief's success is the people behind the print.
"We have the best of the best in The Chief office," she said."The most dedicated, hard working team I have ever had the honour to work with."
She said she is looking forward to continuing to work with the community as the new publisher.
GranFondo to slow traffic on Highway 99
More than 4,000 cyclists will be sharing the road with regular traffic this Saturday (Sept. 11) for the RBC GranFondo Whistler - a mass participation cycling event. GranFondos have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades and are beginning to gain momentum in North America.
The 120-kilometre ride begins in downtown Vancouver and finishes in Whistler.
The Lions Gate Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic from 6 to 8 a.m. and for the length of the course riders will have a designated lane, but the highway is still open to regular traffic.
There will be reduced speed limits along Highway 99 to Squamish and anyone driving from Vancouver to Squamish should allow two hours minimum travel time and from Squamish to Whistler an hour and a half hours minimum travel time.
In Squamish, Loggers Lane northbound will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to noon. and southbound on Loggers Lane from beside Brennan Park to Centennial Way.
There will be a bypass route through the Brennan Park Recreation centre for those travelling southbound on Loggers Lane.
In Whistler, Village Gate Road will be closed from Northlands to Blackcomb Way from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Blackcomb Way West will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spectators are not allowed to stop on the course except at the mid-point Aid station at Brennan Park in Squamish.
