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Squamish is a growing community in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound.
Squamish (2001 census population 14,247) is a diversified community. Forestry is the main industry, with the pulp mill still as the town's largest employer. Squamish is also increasingly popular with Vancouver residents escaping the increased cost of living in that city, only one hour away by road.
Squamish Nation
Main article: Squamish First NationSquamish is also the name of the First Nations people who have inhabited a this part of southwest BC (including North and West Vancouver) since before the time of contact with Europeans. The meaning is "mother of wind", pertaining to the intense winds that blow through the valley. Previously named Newport, Squamish is the European pronunciation of Skwxwú7mesh, the traditional name. The translation of Skwxwú7mesh's is "people of great drinking water".
Religion
Squamish is home to churches from a variety of faiths. There are eleven churches and religious organizations, from several Christian denominations, as well as Bahá'í Faith, a Sikh temple, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Activities
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Tourist attractions include the newly opened Squamish Adventure Centre; the Stawamus Chief, a huge cliff-faced granite massif favoured by rock climbers; the Shannon Falls waterfall; river-rafting on the Elaho and Squamish rivers; wind surfing and kite surfing at the mouth of the Squamish River; and bald eagle viewing in the nearby community of Brackendale, which has one of North America's largest populations of bald eagles. Squamish is also a popular destination among Greater Vancouver hikers, mountaineers and backcountry skiers due to the multiple vast provincial parks in the surrounding Coast Mountains.
Mayors
2002-current Ian Sutherland
1993-2002 Corrine Lonsdale
1990-1993 Egon Tobus
1983-1990 Phil Turner
Education
In September 2007, Squamish will open its doors to Quest University, which will become one of Canada's few private post-secondary institutions. Its construction is currently in progress. Squamish is also home to five elementary schools, Garibaldi Highlands, Mamquam, Squamish Elementary, Stawamus Elementary and Valleycliffe Elementary, as well as two secondary schools, Howe Sound Secondary School and Don Ross Secondary School.