| Frequently Asked Questions: As a local Squamish and Sea to Sky Realtor I am asked a lot of questions, especially when working with clients who live out of town. Here is a guide of the questions I am most frequently asked… What are your favourite neighbourhoods in Squamish? That is a tough one, because every neighbourhood has its uniqueness to it. Here are just three of my favourites: Hospital Hill – I think this is a pretty awesome neighbourhood, as it has instant access to climbing trails and also offers stunning mountain vistas. Garibaldi Highlands *this is where I live* – this is a great neighbourhood for families, in particular, or simply those who want to be front and centre to some of Squamish’s best biking trails. Brackendale – Brackendale is a lovely area on the north end of Squamish. It offers a quieter lifestyle, away from the downtown area, and typically more land. It is located next to the Squamish river, which offers beautiful walking trails and great fishing! What is an illegal suite, and what are the risks associated? This is a common question that comes up all the time. The first thing I want to clear up is that its not necessarily ILLEGAL, it is UNATHORISED by the district or municipality. In order to be classified as an authorised suite, it will need to meet certain requirements including fire safety, points of egress and separately metered services. It is quite common for secondary suites to be unauthorised in Squamish, and that comes with some risk. As I sit here typing this up, it is highly unlikely that an unauthorised suite will be ordered to undergo significant alterations in order to meet the standards of an authorised suite or be forced to evict tenants and cease operation. That being said, these are the inherent risks associated with purchasing a home with an unauthorised suite. What is your favourite biking trail(s)? Squamish is much-loved for its immediate access to some of the Sea to Sky’s most desirable biking trails. With trails ranging from beginner to expert, there is something for everyone. I highly recommend getting your hands on the trail map available at the Squamish Adventure Centre, as it shows you all the local trails and the skill level. Here are some options: Green/Beginners Trails: Wonderland (my favourite), Cliff’s Corners and Dump Trails Blue/Flowy Trails: Half Nelson, Pseudo Tsuga and Miki’s Magic Blue/Tech Trails: Leave of Absence, Fred Tinder-Your Mom and Rollercoaster Black Trails: Entrails, Rupert and Hybrid What are your favourite hiking trails? There is an endless amount of hiking trails in and around the Squamish area. Here are a few of my favourite hiking trails, from easy walks to tough grinds: Easy: Estuary Trail or Bluffs Park (45 minutes – 1 hour) Intermediate: Brohm Lake Loop or Four Lake Loop at Alice Lake Hard: The Sea to Summit Trail or The Chief. Are there any beaches in Squamish? Squamish is surrounded by rivers, lakes and the ocean. We are incredibly blessed to be able to hike beside gorgeous waterfalls, have a picnic alongside a pristine glacier-fed lake, go windsurfing or kiteboarding in the ocean or just simply relax at Nexxen Beach. But let’s get one thing clear, our beaches truly represent ‘rugged British Columbia’, where sand is traded in for driftwood and pebbles. Fisherman’s Park in Brackendale offers some of the more ‘sandy beach’ alternatives to enjoy. What do I need to know about Squamish and the floodplains? This is a tough one – water is truly just part of our reality when you live in Squamish. First and foremost, The Daisy Lake Dam is at a higher elevation than Squamish, and we are surrounded by numerous rivers and lakes, as well as our proximity to the ocean – that is a lot of water! The Squamish District has been working on flood mitigation plans for many years with our last flood recorded in 2003. Most of the work is aimed at improving our dike systems protecting the Mamquam, Stawamus, Cheekeye and Squamish Rivers. Another big factor in today’s world is the effects of climate change i.e. rising oceans. I always recommend consulting with your insurance provider regarding inland flooding, back-up flooding as well as saltwater flooding. Unfortunately, most, if not all of Squamish is not insured for saltwater flooding. How many times a day does the train come? Unfortunately, there is no cut and dry answer, as there is no formalized schedule for the train. The tracks run through the west side of town, mainly through the downtown area, Dentville, Northyards, Garibaldi Estates and Brackendale neighbourhoods. I am told that there used to be approximately 4 trains per day, however, the number of trains has greatly decreased due to low demand from the wood mills throughout the pandemic. Fun fact: you can learn about Squamish’s rich history at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. What is the best way to travel along the Sea to Sky Highway? Most people elect to drive their car up and down the highway, however, if you are looking for alternate travel options I would highly recommend the Squamish Connector – traveling between Metro Vancouver and Whistler, connecting at all the major stops including Horseshoe Bay and Squamish. What are the service providers in Squamish? For your internet needs, Shaw & Telus service this area – I use Shaw in the Highlands. As for the rest of your communication needs, you can choose from a number of providers, including Shaw, Rogers, Telus, Koodoo and more. Hydro is through BC Hydro and Natural gas is through Fortis BC. Where is the Gun Range located? The Squamish Valley Rod and Gun Club is one of Squamish’s oldest residents, established in 1942. They offer a number of sports like archery, fishing and of course, shooting spots. The gun range is located next to the Mamquam River on Centennial Way. The area’s most affected by the noise of the range are: Garbialdi Estates, Brennan Centre & Tantalus, however, it can also be heard in the highlands. Is Squamish really that windy? Squamish means big wind, which is why it is such a desirable area for wind sport enthusiasts, however, what does that mean for your outdoor time? Squamish is blessed with relatively mind temperatures, which means we get to enjoy the outdoors for most of the year, however, it can be very windy and leave your outdoor patio sessions at the mercy of mother nature. South/West & South/East patio’s tend to be more impacted by wind. What are the daycare facilities like in Squamish? This is a hands down one of the biggest concerns for young families in Squamish, but lets be honest, the daycare crisis is not limited to Squamish or the Sea to Sky Community. It is widely felt throughout most communities throughout Canada. I am not an expert in this area (as I do not have kids myself) however, we have a great resource called the Sea to Sky Community Services, which offers assistance and guidance with finding childcare programs, among many other useful services. Take a look here: https://www.sscs.ca/child-care/. *Special thanks to Ali & Jenn for providing their favourite bike trails, as this is not my strong point* |