Squamish, British Columbia

Squamish
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
Newport
District municipality
District of Squamish[1]
Cleveland Avenue in Squamish with Mount Garibaldi looming in the background
Cleveland Avenue in Squamish with Mount Garibaldi looming in the background
Official logo of Squamish
Logo
Nickname: 
Squampton[2]
Squamish is located in British Columbia
Squamish
Squamish
Location of Squamish in British Columbia
Squamish is located in Canada
Squamish
Squamish
Squamish (Canada)
Coordinates: 49°42′06″N 123°09′32″W / 49.70167°N 123.15889°W / 49.70167; -123.15889
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
RegionHowe Sound/Sea to Sky Country
Regional DistrictSquamish-Lillooet Regional District
Government
 • TypeElected council
 • MayorArmand V. Hurford
 • Governing bodySquamish Council
 • MPPatrick Weiler
 • MLAJeremy Valeriote
Area
 • Total104.88 km2 (40.49 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total23,819
 • Density186.1/km2 (482/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Squamite, Squamishite, Squamolian[4]
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Forward sortation area
V8B
Area code604
Websitesquamish.ca Edit this at Wikidata

Squamish (IPA: [skwɔːmɪʃ]; Squamish: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, IPA: [ˈsqʷχʷuː.ʔməʃ]; 2021 census population 23,819)[3] is a community and a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway. The population of the Squamish census agglomeration, which includes First Nation reserves of the Squamish Nation although they are not governed by the municipality, is 24,232.[5]

Indigenous Squamish people have lived in the area for thousands of years.[6] The town of Squamish had its beginning during the construction of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the 1910s. It was the first southern terminus of that railway (now a part of CN). The town remains important in the operations of the line and also the port. Forestry has traditionally been the main industry in the area, and the town's largest employer was the pulp mill operated by Western Forest Products. However, Western's operations in Squamish permanently ceased on January 26, 2006.[7] Before the pulp mill, the town's largest employer had been International Forest Products (Interfor) with its sawmill and logging operation, but it closed a few years prior to the pulp mill's closing. In recent years, Squamish has become popular with Vancouver and Whistler residents escaping the increased cost of living in those places, both less than one hour away by highway. Tourism is increasingly important in the town's economy, with an emphasis on outdoor recreation.

  1. ^ "British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address" (XLS). British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ^ Thuncher, Jennifer. "About that saying". Squamish Chief.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2021censusB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Wittenburg, Wolfgang (2 February 2013). "Squamisher or Squamolean ?". The Squamish Reporter. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  5. ^ Statistics Canada. [https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=squamish&DGUIDlist=2021S0504934&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Squamish British Columbia [Census agglomeration]] Retrieved on: September 10, 2023.
  6. ^ "Bowl an inspiration for Squamish archaeologist". Squamish Chief. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  7. ^ Western Forest Products Western Forest Products Announces Q1 2006 Results/Strategic Acquisitions Closed. Press Release, May 12, 2006. retrieved on: July 30, 2007.