What if the way we do business in Squamish could actually create less waste, lower costs, and build a stronger local economy, all at the same time? That’s exactly the promise of the circular economy, and the District of Squamish has been quietly leading the charge.
From Roadmap to Reality
It started in 2021, when the District developed its Circular Economy Roadmap, a forward-thinking plan focused on three key sectors where Squamish has the most opportunity to close the loop: construction and the built environment, food systems, and textiles. The roadmap wasn’t just a vision document. It was a commitment to shifting Squamish away from the traditional “take-make-dispose” model and toward one where waste is designed out, materials stay in use longer, and resources are regenerated rather than discarded.
In October 2023, Squamish Council endorsed a comprehensive Circular Economy Roadmap and Implementation Plan, formally aligning it with the community’s Climate Action Plan and Zero Waste Action Plan. Then came the work of actually making it happen.
Enter the Trailblazers
In 2024, the District launched its first-ever Circular Economy Trailblazer Program, aimed at training local businesses and non-profits to adopt circular economy practices and support them in developing and implementing their own solutions. Funded through $291,485 from the Province of BC’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), the program was built to close what organizers called “the intention-action gap” that space between wanting to do better and actually knowing how.
The program offered three hands-on workshops, one-on-one coaching sessions, circular opportunity assessments, and customized implementation planning, all over roughly eight months. A kick-off event at Howe Sound Inn set the tone, and a recognition celebration at the end gave participants a chance to share what they’d built.
The Numbers Tell a Compelling Story
22 organizations registered for the Trailblazer Program. Over $110,000 was distributed to 13 organizations within the community to grow their circular practices. More than half of participants said they had changed or would be changing their procurement practices as a result of the program, from sourcing products with less packaging and recycled content, to developing organization-wide Sustainable Procurement Plans. And over 75% of participants reported new partnerships or circular collaborations, with 15 or more new collaborations either underway or being actively explored.
Participating sectors included building and construction, textiles, education, food and beverage, recreation, and social enterprise, a cross-section of Squamish’s business community that reflects just how broadly circular thinking can be applied.
Why it Matters for Chamber Members
Circular economy practices aren’t just good for the planet; they make business sense. Participants in the Trailblazer Program were motivated by real, tangible benefits: cost savings through smarter material use, stronger supply chain reliability, new revenue opportunities, and the ability to attract customers who care about sustainability.
As District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford put it: “Adopting a circular economy in Squamish and moving away from the linear economic model is not only a new way of thinking or adopting new business practices — it’s a necessity.“
Squamish’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond our borders, either. In September 2024, the District was featured alongside the City of Richmond in a national report on creating circular economy roadmaps, published by the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI).
See It in Action
Want to learn more about what Squamish organizations are doing to put circular principles into practice? The District has compiled a series of webinars which provide a great starting point if you’re curious about what this could look like for your own organization – Watch the playlist here.
You can also read the full Circular Economy Trailblazer Program recap, including participant highlights and program details on the Let’s Talk Squamish page.
Squamish has always been a community that punches above its weight when it comes to innovation and environmental leadership. The Circular Economy Trailblazer Program is just the latest proof that thinking differently about how we do business here isn’t just possible, it’s already happening!