The District of Squamish is a destination for many outdoor enthusiasts, from climbers to mountain bikers, hikers and kite surfers, many of whom travel and sleep in vans and RVs. But with limited camping space and ever-increasing interest in the area, people are left to find non-camping spots, and some leave trash and human waste behind. “At the height of summer, the number of people coming into our community is significant and far beyond the infrastructure we have here for everyone to camp properly and manage themselves in a campground as they should,” he said. French. “It’s really upsetting for the residents who live here,” he said. French estimates there are about 700 designated campsites in the area, but they are all regularly full. “I think it’s safe to say it’s hundreds of vehicles and hundreds of people camping in areas that aren’t designated for camping,” he said, adding that places like Spit Road, a beautiful part of town that juts out into Howe Sound alongside a sensitive estuary, have become hot spots. Garbage is seen piled on the floor of a mobile home on Spit Road in Squamish. (Submitted by Tim Cyr) Residents’ complaints include noise, but French said this year, after a bit of a lull due to the pandemic, the number one issue is trash and human waste. “People who come to Squamish for adventure should be prepared to take care of their own waste,” he said. “Because we are inundated with visitors every summer.” He said there are toilets and waste facilities on Spit Road, but admits this is not enough for demand.
Local residents versus visitors
Thomasina Pidgeon is a Squamish resident who lives in a van and supports the community through the group, Vehicle Residents of Squamish. According to Pidgeon, a distinction must be made between long-term vehicle residents and tourists passing through the city, and she is unhappy that the mess left by a few people is being blamed on the wider group. “There are a lot of visitors to Squamish and a lot of them don’t practice ‘leave no trace.’ They leave a lot of litter and unfortunately vehicle dwellers are to blame for most of it,” he said. But when it comes to a solution to overflowing trash cans, he thinks the answer is clear. “This year, I’ve noticed that there aren’t as many toilets where there were last year. So if there’s an increase in trash and litter, I mean, put in some toilets and put in more trash cans,” Pidgeon said. French doesn’t see it that way. “Yeah, sure, the district could do more, but really, from my perspective, it’s a matter of personal responsibility,” he said. The deputy mayor said there is a strategy to strengthen law enforcement in problem areas and escalate from an educational approach to enforcement when necessary. According to Pidgeon, law enforcement is not helping permanent residents living in vehicles, many of whom have been forced there by the high cost of housing in Squamish. “If Squamish wants to be seen as an inclusive place, it needs to have inclusive solutions, and that doesn’t include a bylaw that punishes people for sleeping around,” he said. Thomasina Pidgeon and her daughter Cedar rest at their home in Squamish in a 2019 file photo. (Rafferty Baker/CBC) As for making more room for the growing number of visitors and those already living with vehicles in the city, French said the district has no plans to take it on. The 35-site municipal campground at Brennan Park is closed and only available during special events. French hopes that people visiting Squamish can remain respectful and considerate in the way they handle themselves and their waste.
