Additions at Quest
Quest University’s Board of Governors has a new chair and three new members this fall.
Board member Mary Jo Larson has been appointed chair. Larson is a partner at the law firm Warner Norcross and Judd LLP in Detroit, Michigan and both her son and nephew have attended Quest, a news release states. New to the board are Squamish resident and Squamish Nation negotiator Chief Dale Harry (Pekultn Siyam); Cathy Beehan who was named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in 2015 by the Women’s Executive Network; and Nicolaas Westeinde, who was born in the Netherlands and grew up in London. Westeinde has worked for various businesses in Canada over the years, including as president of Grouse Mountain Resorts. The board has eight members and is responsible for the operation of the university. Members can only be re-elected once and serve five-year terms. The chair serves a two-year term.
Trash terminated
Volunteers at the Squamish Terminals’ sixth annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup collected around 2,000 pounds of garbage and recyclables from the Squamish Estuary and Newport Beach, according to a Terminals news release. On Sept. 22, 110 volunteers spent an hour-and-a-half filling up 100 trash and recycling bags, collecting from over 20 kilometres of the oceanfront.
The top most unusual items collected were a safe, a hot plate, a back massager, foot pump and wok. Of concern to volunteers was the number of cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic and glass, drink containers and plastic bags.
Books and beer
They go together like chocolate and peanut butter. The library is reviving its Books and Beer evening on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Eagle Eye Theatre. The night features author and CBC host Grant Lawrence along with local authors, Katherine Fawcett and Stella Harvey. Art by local artists will be featured. Musicians Samantha Sinanan and The Shifters will also entertain. Tickets can be purchased at the library.
She’s a winner
Squamish’s Lois Wynne, executive director of Sea to Sky Community Services Society, has been honoured with a BC Community Social Services Award of Excellence. The awards, presented by the Community Social Services Association of BC and sponsored by Telus, were announced at a luncheon in Vancouver Tuesday. The awards pay tribute to four individuals “who exemplify excellence in their delivery of social services to British Columbians,” reads a news release. Wynne was awarded in the category of legend, which honours an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to her community. Wynne has worked for 30 years in the social services sector in Squamish and “has grown her agency from five to 180 employees, $46,000 to $8 million in annual operating budget and four to 40 community programs.”
Where’s the storm?
Squamish residents were warned of up to 100-kilometre winds and very heavy rain on Saturday night but the powerful storm, which was forecast by Environment Canada, didn’t travel as far as B.C. The amount of rain and wind that was expected never occurred, and although there were reports on social media of some basements damaged by flooding, the vast majority of Squamish residents were in the clear.
Girls’ day camps
The Howe Sound Women’s Centre Society received $25,000 from Vankerk Solutions to fund the annual girls’ summer day camps in Squamish and Whistler over the next five years. The camps are focused on connecting with nature, building friendships and empowerment for young girls aged eight to 11 years old. The funds cover the operational cost of the camps and ensure access for families in need.
OCP moves along
Despite the nasty weather outside, dozens of dedicated locals turned out for three evening brainstorming sessions that are part of the ongoing District of Squamish Official Community Plan [OCP] rewrite.
The Squamish 2040 meetings held over the past week focused on residents’ vision for the district’s food system, active transportation and early childhood development visions.
The goal of the sessions was to dig deeper into each of the issues to get to what residents want for the future of Squamish, according to district staff.
The existing OCP was written in 2009. The Squamish 2040 consultation started about a year ago and has included numerous public meetings to get input. The plan is the overarching document that informs all other policy at the district.
For example, it helps council decide what developments should go where. A Citizen Advisory Committee made up of Mayor Patricia Heintzman and 10 Squamish residents, including Coun. Karen Elliott, is tasked with ensuring policy development reflects what the public has said during consultation, according to district staff. The next phase will be drafting the revised plan.
