Squamish will be receiving two interns as part of a provincial initiative to support youth employment throughout B.C. Parks.
A planning intern and an administrative intern will be working in town for 14-week terms this year, and the jobs will be posted in the coming days.
On April 16, the Ministry of Environment issued a statement to The Chief that said the placements are part of a $4-million allocation for the Youth Employment Program with BC Parks and the BC Conservation Officer Service to fund 83 positions, including 37 youth positions with BC Parks and 46 youth positions with the Conservation Officer Service.
Positions will be located provincewide, with the intent of providing candidates a chance to develop skills and experiences to help them succeed in an outdoor field.
The positions will have youth working in areas such as parks planning, community engagement and education, conservation, recreation services and administration.
Tori Ball, a senior campaigner with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society in B.C., applauded the funding injection for the youth jobs.
However, she noted that two positions in the Sea to Sky seemed a little low.
"Two is better than none, but definitely not on the scale that's needed for the Sea to Sky, in my opinion," said Ball.
That same day, Environment Minister George Heyman announced an $80-million funding package for parks over a three-year period across the province.
The money is expected to go to adding more campsites, trails, and park management and infrastructure, among other things.
About 180 campsites are expected to be added this year, said Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Kelly Greene.
CPAWS hailed the investment as a historic move.
"This is the biggest investment in the last three decades into B.C. parks," said Ball. "Of course, we've been calling for it for years, so as much as we would've loved to see it happen sooner, we're so thrilled that it's here now."
A the moment, there are few specifics about whether the money will find its way to Squamish or the Sea to Sky.
A ministry spokesperson told The Chief that planning is underway to determine where the new projects will take place.
In the meantime, Ball said projects created from the new money would help build the next generation's appreciation for the environment.
People who spend time in parks learn to value the outdoors, she said.
"We're hopeful this will help build up the next generation of people who are going to take care of the wildlife around us," Ball said.
