Party for the last Hip
Squamish will gather to enjoy the iconic tunes and say good-bye to the Hip. Council voted Tuesday night to host a community party where the final Tragically Hip concert will be televised live from Kingston, ON, on August 20. Details are still being worked out, but the celebration will be downtown, Mayor Patricia Heintzman said. The district will match up to $3,750 from council contingency to support the event, which is being organized by the Squamish BIA. The band announced in May lead singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer. This tour, which began last week, is billed a farewell tour.
Drug ban
The Squamish Nation announced on July 21, that certain areas of its reserves would be alcohol and drug free. “No open consumption of alcohol will be allowed in these areas and we will be installing many signs to this effect,” the news release from the Nation stated.
The 45 signs will be up in the next few weeks, according to the release. The move is “an effort to make our public spaces and common areas more safe, livable, and appealing for families.”
The announcement also said the Nation would be encouraging police to enforce the Liquor Control and Licensing Act on the reserve, “but more so in the designated areas.”
In Squamish, the waterfront area around the Canoe Shed and Totem Hall are designated drug- and alcohol-free zones.
An app for that
Tourism Squamish has launched a new app to help visitors to the district. With the Explore Squamish app tourists can book a hotel room, find the nearest restaurant, view trail maps and more, according to a Tourism Squamish news release.
“This is just one of the tools we are utilizing in order to best showcase the world-class recreation, attractions, dining and events that are drawing record visitor numbers to Squamish,” Tourism Squamish executive director Lesley Weeks said in the release. “We have essentially created a mobile tour guide that will improve the Squamish experience.”
The app, built by Canada’s Best Apps, is available in the App Store and on Google Play.
We’re beautiful
Squamish was named one of the 35 most beautiful destinations in Canada recently by Expedia.ca.
According to a company news release, Squamish was chosen for, among other things, “its picturesque panorama views of the landscape.”
Breeze breezes ahead
Several North Yard residents once again came out to council Tuesday night in a last ditch effort to change the proposed Breeze housing development slated for their neighbourhood. Council authorized granting the mixed-use Target Homes development its Development Permit with some variances at a special business meeting Tuesday night.
The development, accessed directly off Government Road, will include 80 units on three acres. Units will include live-work apartments, lofts and 60 townhomes, some with rooftop decks.
Each time this development has come before council up to 40 neighbourhood residents have shown up or written to oppose its density, which they say doesn’t fit with the character of the neighbourhood and will cause increased traffic and parking issues.
