What Squamish Businesses Want from the Next Mayor and Council
What Squamish Businesses Want from the Next Mayor and Council Results from the Joint Engagement Committee’s 2026 Election and Business Priorities Survey With the municipal election days away, the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Squamish and Tourism Squamish, working together as the Joint Engagement Committee (JEC), asked local businesses what matters most to them. Fifty-four […]
U.S. Tariffs Threats and What it Means for B.C. Businesses
New U.S. Tariffs Are Coming August 19 — Here’s What It Means for B.C. Businesses On July 20, 2026, the U.S. administration signed proclamations placing new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods — including dairy, wine and whiskey, cement, candles, plastics, and furniture — set to take effect August 19. Just three days […]
Premiers Pledge to Eliminate Obstacles to Alcohol Trade Between Provinces
From Global News: “9 premiers agree to lift interprovincial trade barriers on alcohol products By Eli Ridder and Jack Farrell The premiers of nine provinces announced Tuesday that they’re removing major barriers to interprovincial sales of alcohol. Provincial rules will be changed to allow brewers and distillers to sell alcohol directly to consumers regardless of […]
Squamish’s Fight for Fair Fuel Prices
Squamish’s Fight for Fair Fuel Prices: An Example of Community Advocacy For years, residents and business owners across the Sea to Sky corridor have asked the same frustrating question: why does gas in Squamish so often cost as much — or more — than gas in Metro Vancouver, even though our community doesn’t pay the […]
Building What Matters: BC Chamber AGM
The BC Chamber of Commerce is the province’s largest and most broadly based business network, representing more than 80 local Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade and tens of thousands of businesses of every size, sector, and region across British Columbia. The 2026 – 2027 Policies and Positions Manual contains 33 policy resolutions adopted […]
What Do You Think About the Proposed BC PST Expansion?
The proposed expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) in British Columbia marks a significant shift for many service-based businesses, with new rules set to take effect on October 1, 2026. For the first time, a 7% PST will apply to several professional and service categories that were previously exempt, potentially impacting pricing, contracts, and […]
BC Chamber of Commerce Statement on Budget 2026
Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in response to the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of British Columbia. “As expected, Budget 2026 provides a sobering economic outlook for the province in the year ahead and over the three-year fiscal plan. “Today’s budget offers little in the […]
Joint Engagement Committee Seeks Transparency around Fuel Pricing
The Joint Engagement Committee is an advocacy group comprised of members from the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Squamish and the Downtown Squamish BIA. Established to foster collaboration and coordination across the three organizations, the committee meets monthly to address emerging issues and represent the interests and economic growth of Squamish. Committee partners recently met […]
Eagle Mountain Pipeline Project – General Statement
The Squamish Chamber of Commerce presented their general statement regarding the Eagle Mountain Pipeline Project on May 24th, 2023. Download PDF General Statement About The Squamish Chamber of Commerce The Squamish Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Squamish community by actively supporting business, economic growth and diversification. The […]
Focusing Forward, 2022-2023 Policy & Positions Manual
We are pleased to share Focusing Forward, 2022-2023 Policy and Positions Manual (Focusing Forward) which contains 55 policy statements and positions adopted by the BC Chamber of Commerce at the provincial association’s 70th Annual General Meeting and Conference on June 7-9, 2022, in Prince George. Louise Walker, Squamish Chamber Executive Director, attended the conference in […]
Squamish Partners Urge Action on Transit, Parking and Transportation Infrastructure
Squamish Chamber of Commerce Media Release For immediate release – May 25, 2022 Download Media Release Squamish partners write to elected officials to urge action on transit, parking and transportation infrastructure. #squamish #squamishbusiness #advocacy Tweet This May 18, 2022 (extract) Re: Transit, Parking and Transportation Infrastructure Dear your Honours Elliott, Sturdy, Bains, and Fleming, The […]
Advocacy Get Involved – Transit Strike – Letter Template
Advocacy – Transit Strike Letter Template As you are aware, bus drivers in the Sea to Sky have been on strike since January 29. The Squamish Chamber recognizes the impact of the strike on your business, employees and the wider community. While we are not involved in the bargaining process, we have advocated to encourage […]
Advocacy Continues – Unifor Union Strike – PW Transit
Advocacy for Unifor Union Strike – BC Transit / PW Transit “The Squamish Chamber of Commerce is once again writing to encourage you to resume negotiations in order to find a resolution and enable the return of public transit to the community of Squamish. Squamish is a community of small businesses. Business owners and their […]
Sea to Sky Fire and Ice Aspiring Geopark
Sea to Sky Fire and Ice Aspiring Geopark, Feb 28, 2022 The Squamish Chamber confirms support for the Fire & Ice Aspiring Geopark. “The Squamish Chamber is aware the Sea to Sky Fire & Ice Geopark Society (dba the Fire & Ice Aspiring Geopark) is seeking designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark. We are pleased to see the Geopark […]
Squamish Chamber Response – Unifor Union Strike – PW Transit
Advocacy for Sea to Sky Transit The Squamish Chamber of Commerce (SCC) is the oldest and largest business organization in the Squamish community, representing nearly 600 members. Squamish Chamber highlights the importance of public transit and encourages a resolution and expeditious return of local transit services to Squamish. “In the last 12 months, over two […]
Short Term Rentals, January 5, 2022
Short Term Rentals, January 5, 2022 The Squamish Chamber has been active in discussions around short term rentals, including participation at workshops, meetings with District of Squamish staff, research, letters to Council and speaking at the September 2020 public hearing. A one-year review was conducted in January 2022. The Squamish Chamber expressed our concerns with […]
Marine Rezoning, June 8, 2021
Marine Rezoning, June 8, 2021 The Squamish Chamber has been active in discussions around marine rezoning, including meetings with District of Squamish staff, letters to Council, participation in surveys and speaking at the public hearing in 2021. At the public hearing, The Squamish Chamber followed up with two meetings in January 2022 to provide continued […]
Marine Rezoning, May 12 2021
Marine Rezoning, May 12 2021 The Squamish Chamber has been active in discussions around marine rezoning, including meetings with District of Squamish staff, letters to Council, participation in surveys and speaking at the public hearing in 2021. The Squamish Chamber would like to ensure marine rezoning does not negatively impact existing businesses that are […]
BC Chamber – Big Thinking for Small Business
September 10, 2020 A three-part plan for economic recovery. Feedback through our BCMindReader.com platform tells us that entrepreneurs are having a slow and fragile recovery so far. Almost two thirds (65%) of the BC business community is depending on government programs to stay afloat, and only three out of ten (28%) expect to return to […]
Squamish Community Forest, July 22, 2020
Squamish Community Forest, July 22, 2020 The Squamish Chamber offered support for the proposed Squamish Community Forest (SQCF). “It is our understanding that the SQCF would bring many benefits, including greater local input to forest management decisions around recreation, watersheds, wildlife, viewscapes and timber harvest, as well as support for local economies and […]
Covid Pulse-Check Survey 4
July 16, 2020 Thank you for participating in the COVID-19 Impact Pulse Check #4. We received 1,401 responses – and the results are available here. Here’s what you told us While British Columbia has entered phase three of its Restart Plan, two-thirds (65%) of businesses surveyed are using some form of government support. Businesses expect a substantial “second […]
Understanding Affordable Housing In Squamish – Guest Blog
Read our latest guest blog from Squamish Chamber Director Cameron Cope, Owner & Operator, Our Squamish. As Squamish continues to grow, it is essential to get a better understanding of the factors contributing to the housing affordability problem. #squamishchamber #housingaffordability Tweet This Housing affordability, though currently eclipsed by today’s pandemic, is on everyone’s mind. It’s […]
The Squamish Chief – We need long-term rentals: District of Squamish
June 18, 2020 As Squamish faces a housing crisis and a pandemic, municipal council has moved a step closer to regulating short-term rentals in town. On June 16, council voted 6-1 in favour of passing first reading of a bylaw that would govern the use of short-term rentals, such as Airbnb. Coun. Chris Pettingill was […]
Reopening Garibaldi Provincial Park
Squamish Chamber – Re: Reopening Garibaldi Provincial Park June 13th, 2020 Download PDF Reopening Garibaldi Provincial Park would create increased opportunities for fewer faces and wide-open spaces, while allowing struggling businesses to operate, albeit in very different circumstances. #squamishchamber Tweet This Squamish, BC – June 13, 2020 Honourable George HeymanMinistry of Environment and Climate […]
Pulse-Check Survey Shows the COVID Crisis is Deepening for Businesses
April 21, 2020 The COVID-19 crisis is deepening for British Columbia businesses with four-in-ten (43%) of those surveyed stating they can only continue to operate for up to three months under current restrictions. For businesses temporarily closed, the future is similarly dire, with only half (53%) expecting to reopen once the restrictions are eased on […]
Pulse-Check Survey Shows Many B.C Businesses in Need of Life Support
April 3, 2020 The COVID-19 crisis is significantly hurting British Columbia businesses and their employees. In the past two weeks alone, approximately half of the 1,900 businesses surveyed have experienced revenue decreases of 75% or more, while two-thirds have seen revenues drop by 50% or more. This is according to a survey of the members […]
MindReader Survey Results – We Heard You
March 23, 2020 Dear Squamish Chamber member, We heard you. As you may know, the BC Government announced a COVID-19 Action Plan, which includes $5 billion allocated for programs that support businesses, workers, and economic recovery. This announcement was directly informed by the COVID-19 Business Impact Survey conducted by our BC chamber network and partners, […]
Small Businesses Feeling the Bite From COVID
Vancouver Sun Article March 19, 2020 Almost 90 per cent of B.C. small businesses are already reporting some hit in lost sales, cancelled contracts or layoffs due to the COVID-19 response, according to a new B.C. Chamber of Commerce survey. Read full story. “They’re treading water right now, but they can’t do that for too […]
Federal Package for Business and Provincial Update
Squamish Chamber of Commerce Media Release For immediate release – March 18, 2020 Download PDF Media Release “Together, we’ll get through this” – Minister Morneau Tweet This Squamish, B.C. – What follows is a joint update from the Squamish Chamber and the BC Chamber. Dear Members, Federal Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, just unveiled the […]
COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness for Business
Preparedness Guide for Business March 16 Update: Please visit here for all resources around prevention, preparedness and recovery. Should COVID-19 escalate, some of the things businesses need to plan for include: Staff absences Service disruption Supply chain disruption Increase / decrease in demand for products or services Cancelation of travel, meetings and events Increased public […]