Squamish
Squamish is called the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada for a reason. Squamish's unequaled location is at the head of a glacially etched fjord on the Pacific Ocean, at the base of the largest granite monolith in North America, in the middle of a beautiful temperate rainforest and at the confluence of many salmon bearing rivers. Squamish also happens to be located half way between the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Host cities of Vancouver, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and Whistler the best ski resort in North America. Squamish is a convenient base for what is perhaps the most magnificent Nordic sports facility in the world at the Callaghan Valley.
Squamish lies in the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples of the Squamish Nation. Later European settlers pioneered endeavors such as agriculture, forestry, mining, and tourism. More recently we have welcomed people from all over the world including a very active Indo-Canadian community.
This marriage of an unsurpassed location and industrious people has produced a community teeming with activity. Volunteers in this community have assisted with the creation of golf courses, world class mountain bike trails, rock climbing parks, an airport, hospital, a variety of festivals such as Squamish Day’s Logger’s Sports, Test of Metal, Wild at Art, Diwali, Celebration of the 4th Guru, SERF, Brackendale Fall Fair, the Farmer’s Market, Rumble at the Rock and many more. The Squamish Minor Soccer Association alone coordinates a league of over 800 youths. Squamish also boasts the second largest per capita population of artists in Canada.
Squamish is home to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park and is complimented by the BC Museum of Mining. Visitors to our area can learn more about these and other amenities at the Squamish Adventure Centre, the distinct design of which showcases our local architecture and wood products. The design also pays homage to the fact that we are home to the largest wintering round of the bald eagle on the West Coast. These magnificent raptors can be enjoyed in the winter months along the Squamish river shore at the Brackendale Eagle viewing area.