The future Sea to Sky Forestry Centre, destined for south of the Squamish Adventure Centre gravel parking lot, will entertain, educate and inspire, if its planners have their way.
The approximately 11,000 square foot, multi-storey centre will be crafted with locally-sourced materials and include event space, interactive displays, temporary and permanent exhibits and much more, says Ken Pickering, president of the Sea to Sky Forestry Centre Society.
“Our slogan is ‘forestry past, present and future,’” he says. “We want visitors to our centre to come away with the much storied past of our forest industry and how it helped to open [up] much of B.C. and provide jobs and opportunity to many.”
The centre will also educate visitors on the cutting edge local forestry practices currently in use, as well as the innovations underway to evolve forestry in the future, Pickering added.
The society signed a lease with the District of Squamish in July, Pickering said, allowing members to turn their attention to raising funds for the project.
A $2.5-million capital fundraising campaign has been launched.
Individuals can donate to the cause and sponsorship opportunities are available.
Pickering said the society also hopes to attract more members who can join the society for a nominal fee.
A contest to design the Forestry Centre logo is underway.
To be chosen, the logo must show aspects of ocean, forest and mountain; honour First Nations, and capture the theme of the past, present and future of the forest industry.
Logo submissions will be accepted until Sept. 30. Board members of the society will narrow down the submissions to the top three and then the public will have a chance to weigh in on their favourite.
(For more on the logo contest email sterling@windigos.ca.)
The plan is for the Sea to Sky Forestry Centre to welcome its first visitors in 2020.
“We hope they will come away knowing this is a renewable resource that, managed properly, is sustainable and will be here for their children and their children’s children,” said Pickering. To donate or learn more, go to seatoskyforest.ca/.
