They believe they can stop it.
One of the oldest and largest clubs at the University of British Columbia has taken up the cause of stopping the Garibaldi at Squamish resort project for environmental reasons.
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) formed an environmental committee of about 10 members in late December with the purpose of halting the $3.5-billion Brohm Ridge resort, which received its provincial environmental assessment certificate in January.
“VOC has been using Garibaldi Park specifically for the entire time it has existed,” said the committee’s Devon Campbell. “Backcountry skiing, hiking, including at Brohm Ridge…. There’s reports from the 1940s and ’50s of us going up to Garibaldi.”
The club has been around since 1917, said Campbell, and its members have taken to Garibaldi since about that time, so it is a natural the group would fight to protect it.
“There is going to be significant environmental effects,” he said of the project, which includes 20 ski lifts and a mix of housing and hotel accommodations for 22,000 people.
“Roughly twice the size of Stanley Park of old growth forest will be either cut down or altered if the project is developed,” Campbell said.
Representatives for Garibaldi at Squamish say that no more than 235 hectares of old growth forest will be cleared during construction, an area just over half the size of Stanley Park.
Jim Chu of the Aquilini Investment Group, proponents of the resort, said the varsity club had not been willing to engage with the proponents to try to come to an understanding.
“We’ve strived hard to communicate to all user groups in the area and we’ve reached out to the UBC varsity club several times to talk about our resort,” Chu said. “They came to only one meeting in September, where we assured them we had no plans nor desire to encroach on Garibaldi Park.”
The varsity club has paired with a separate group, Garibaldi Park 2020, which has launched a petition asking B.C. Minister of Environment Mary Polak to open the 1990 Garibaldi Park Master Plan and stop the Garibaldi at Squamish resort. According to Garibaldi Park 2020, the online petition garnered more than 1,000 signatures and attracted the attention of the media and members of Parliament in the first 24 hours.
“I really like the attention we are getting – it helps our cause a lot,” said Campbell.
Chris Ludwig of Garibaldi 2020 said the group is made up of members of various groups who founded Garibaldi Park.
“To a certain degree, we feel like we are stewards of it,” said Ludwig, a lifelong mountain climber and trail builder.
Chu said Garibaldi at Squamish also supports BC Parks revising the Garibaldi Park Master Plan. “This revision would involve extensive public consultation, which it seems the petition authors are calling for. And if that is the case, I want to note that not only do we support this review, but we have committed $75,000 to help fund this review,” he said.
The proponents, Chu added, are still willing to meet with both groups to discuss the benefits of the project to recreational users.
Members of the Garibaldi 2020 oppose the project because of its impact on wildlife, such as mountain goats and deer, as well as old-growth forests, the loss of groundwater it may cause – 22 per cent according to the club’s Save Garibaldi Park website – and the possible impact on salmon spawning.
In addition, opponents say B.C.’s 13 mountain resorts run at an average of 32 per cent capacity.
VOC’s Campbell also questions the feasibility of skiing on the site.
“It is in an area that doesn’t have great terrain or snow for skiing, so we don’t really see it as a viable ski resort,” he said, adding the committee took its information from the environmental assessment application submitted by the Garibaldi at Squamish proponents.
Campbell said he truly believes the groups’ efforts can stop the project.
“Anything is doable, right? You get enough support and there’s enough vocal opposition, there’s a potential for it not to go through, that is the ultimate goal….
"Right now is the time to act,” he said.
For more information or to view the petition, go to garibaldipark2020.com.
