The man chosen to lead Squamish's Capilano University campus into a future full of possibility is the very embodiment of the municipality's goal to be viewed as a source for higher learning and outdoor recreation.
Cap U announced this week that Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program chair Chris Bottrill has been named the new program and local campus dean, replacing Casey Dorin, who has become the new dean of student services at Vancouver Community College (VCC).
Bottrill brings with him years of local knowledge as an instructor and as an outdoor enthusiast.
"I've regularly visited Squamish in a professional purpose, but from a more personal level I spend a lot of time in Squamish because I like it a great deal," said Bottrill.
"I've participated in five Test of Metal races and four Cheakamus Challenges. I've camped regularly there at Alice Lake and Cat Lake. I climb in the mountains. And I regularly attend the Sunflower Bakery, because that's fantastic."
Now Bottrill said he looks forward to spending more time in town getting to know more local stakeholders, faculty and students, because no matter where a campus is located, Cap U is a community first and foremost.
"We all really identify as being part of a learning community, the faculty and the students," he said. "We make sure that every one of those students feels like they are being looked out for and we take quite a degree of pride in that. So that's really what I mean by being part of a community, everybody looks out for each other."
The Squamish university campus initially opened as Capilano College in 1973 to serve the Howe Sound communities.
For the past decade, local government, the province and university representatives have discussed myriad plans to expand the campus, and, along with Quest University, lend Squamish an air of academia by being part of a higher education hub for Squamish Oceanfront development plans.
Bottrill said he's not quite ready to discuss future expansion plans.
"I know that we're very keen on it, but I just I think it's probably not fair to comment fully until I fully transition into the role," he said.
He added any decisions about the future would also have the include consultation with local stakeholders.
"I think it's inappropriate for me to say where I think it should be. This is a community asset and we'll just work with those that are in those roles to help move that forward."
