While there have been Canada Day festivities in past years, neither the District of Squamish nor the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) is hosting such an event in town on July 1.
District staff told The Squamish Chief that the municipality previously provided annual grant funding to the DSBIA to host community-wide Canada Day celebrations, however, since the last Canada Day celebration was hosted in 2019, the DSBIA has chosen to shift their event focus, and council amended the Community Enhancement Grant program to enable non-profit community groups to manage and distribute grant funds on behalf of council.
This has removed the decision-making from the District’s direct control regarding which events and organizations receive funding, staff said.
“Citizens will experience a summer season full of great events and celebrations, and the District will continue to support community celebrations through allocating budgets under the new grant funding program to help non-profit organizations and community groups with street closures and traffic management to alleviate some of the administrative and financial burdens associated with organizing a community event. Community grants are now administered by Squamish Community Foundation and Squamish Arts for eligible projects and events,” said the District’s spokesperson Rachel Boguski in an emailed statement.
To learn more about grant funding opportunities, visit squamisharts.com and squamishfoundation.com.
For its part, DSBIA executive director Kerry Neil noted its upcoming Mural Walk and Open Street Day.
“The BIA will be focusing on the shoulder seasons as this is more beneficial to our members — as most of our members are busy through summer anyway — with events like Pumpkin Patch/Harvest and all being well the Holiday Parade, Photos with Santa, and Downtown Squamish After Hours late night shopping.”
Both the District and the DBIA noted the many events going on and in and around Squamish all summer. (Many of which are on our events calendar.)
For folks in town who really want to wave the flag this year, Britannia Mine Museum is hosting Canada Day Celebrations on Friday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Museum’s celebrations will feature live music from local indie folk/rock musicians, Coldwater Road, who will be performing two 30-minute sets between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“The duo is known for their rich storytelling lyrics deeply rooted in Canada’s western frontier, and their foot-stomping ballads and love songs will give visitors a reason to dance. The band will be releasing a new album this year focusing on Canadian History, including the song “The Mine and the Mill”, which was inspired by a visit to the Britannia Mine Museum,” reads a news release about the event.
Throughout the day, museum staff will be leading maypole dances and hosting many nostalgic games for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Find out more by visiting www.britanniaminemuseum.ca.
Whistler events
There are several Canada Day events happening in Whistler. Check out the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s site for those.
**Know of other Squamish Canada Day events we could add? Email us at [email protected].
