Manufacturers are choosing Squamish because of the community’s fantastic lifestyle attributes, majestic land, skilled labor, multimodal transportation features, and relative proximity to Greater Vancouver. Small manufacturers across a broad range of industries are attracted to Squamish for lifestyle reasons or because of the synergy with local environmental activities, and fit with a location in the community and the prevailing transportation connections. An example of this is companies that are specifically related to other developing industries in Squamish, in particular the alternative energy (wind power) sector.

Squamish Alternative Energy Initiative

The first phase of the alternative energy pilot project was completed in early April 2004. Focusing primarily on Wind Energy, the first phase examined three key factors: the level of resident support for wind towers and wind energy production in the community, whether the wind resource itself was sufficient to support a viable energy project, and whether a business case could be made for a wind energy project in Squamish and the establishment of a broadly-developed energy sector. Most importantly a new sector based on alternative energy and environmental technologies will generate hundreds of new jobs for Squamish.

Through open houses, surveys, interviews and general feedback, public support for the establishment of wind energy was overwhelmingly positive.

The completion of the first phase helped launch funding for Phase Two where test towers with wind measurement devices will be installed in key areas to collect data for a year. The dynamic success of this first phase not only makes it possible that Squamish will be home to British Columbia’s first wind tower but has also attracted the attention of a number of Wind Turbine manufacturers who are looking at Squamish as the ideal location to produce and ship wind turbines.

Squamish Wood Product Initiative

This project has focused on local producers who are developing and/or manufacturing wood products (of all shapes and sizes) or who are engaged in construction methods utilizing wood such as log home or timber frame building.

An in-depth industry profile was carried out to examine the current wood product sector and identify training needs and collaborative opportunities. Education and networking workshops were consequently designed specifically to generate solutions to business development barriers and support existing producers into more solid and expanded markets, as well as to identify areas where more aggressive manufacturing could take place.

The results of this initiative are encouraging and work will continue to examine opportunities for existing producers, as well as options for the development of a more formal Squamish Wood Product Centre.