Culliton Creek-to-Cheakamus River Project

The planning for this stretch of the Sea to Sky Highway has been underway for the past several years. It is with great excitement that we are seeing massive improvements in what seems to be a short time. In 2002, a new bridge was built beside the Big Orange Bridge (known as Bob to local highway drivers) and provided a major boast to this stage of the road improvement. Highway crews have been blasting and clearing rock to widen this section. While we had to endure several road closures, including late night closures lasting up to three hours at a time, the immediate results have been worth the inconvenience. Construction has ceased for the ski season and will not resume again until March 22nd 2004.

Test Section for Sea to Sky Highway Project

On November 3rd 2003, work began on a 1- kilometer "Test Section" for the Sea to Sky Highway which is located halfway between Horseshoe Bay and Lions Bay. From Dec, 1st 2003 until March 18th 2004 expect 2-minute delays at random times.
The purpose of this work is to test geotechnical data and construction methods in a challenging highway segment before embarking on the larger highway construction sections. This is the beginning of increasing the Horseshoe Bay to Squamish portion of the highway to 3 and 4 lanes.

You can call the project information line for further information weekdays between 7AM and 4:30PM at or go online to:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/roadreports/roadreport.asp?filename=highway99.txt

By Pat Place - Manager
Sea to Sky Real Estate (Squamish) Ltd

The Squamish Real Estate market continues as one of the healthiest markets as we head into the New Year. Low interest rates, entry-level prices and a steady rise demand continue to fuel the residential real estate market. The market activity shows that consumers continue to see this as a great time to buy or sell a home.

Real Estate sales cooled slightly in November compared to the record-breaking numbers seen earlier in the year- but remained above 2002 levels. Sales of detached, attached and apartment properties increased by approximately 14 per cent in 2003 as compared to sales in 2002.

We have seen an increase in listings in the last couple of months creating more product to choose from in the market place. Vacant land is still a rare commodity and is largely sought after.

The announcement for the re-development of the historic Squamish Down-Town has recently been made. One development site that is going to generate a great deal of interest is the former Nexen site. The land once used as a chemical plant was given to the District of Squamish to be developed as Squamish sees fit. A development corporation is being formed to lead the future of the waterfront land. This has created a significant buzz for Squamish.

Even though land values have increased significantly in the last year, Squamish is still a good deal compared to other communities around the Lower Mainland. With the announcement of the 2010 Winter Games, experts are forecasting Squamish to be one of the biggest benefactors of the Winter Games, strategically located halfway between Vancouver and Whistler.

By Denise Salmon - Sales Associate
Sea to Sky Real Estate (Squamish) Ltd.

On December 16, 2003 President and Founder of Sea to Sky University, Dr. David Strangway and his colleagues held anHouse at the University offices on Logger’s Lane in Squamish with a great turnout of residents and interested parties from Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor. Plans for the acceleration of the development of SSU campus provide for a first-phase enrolment of 600 students for September 2006 though completion of certain requisite facilities by late 2005 will provide for functions such as large-scale academic conferences. A Letter of Intent with the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corp will see the SSU campus utilized for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Apart from housing Canada’s first private, secular and not-for-profit university, the SSU Project will include land sales for the establishment of 960 market housing units and 30,000 sq.ft. of neighbourhood and commercial facilities. The first phase will include 135 units comprised of single and semi-detached lots as well as multi-family parcels. Specific information in this regard will be available in the pre-sales marketing program in Spring 2004 with anticipated actual land sales commencing Fall 2004.

Dr. Strangway made the announcement of SSU’s first senior executive staff appointees who will be taking their positions in Squamish as of July 1, 2004. They include Dean of Academics, Dr. Ken Coates, currently Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Registrar, Dr. Carin Holroyd, currently Director, Student Support Services, University of Saskatchewan and Chief Financial and Adminstrative Officer, Tony Baena, MBA, CGA.

Dr. Strangway also announced the appointment of 3 distinguished individuals to the SSU Board of Directors: Dr. Bernard Shapiro, retired Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, Nurjehan Mawani, C.M., Senior Advisor on Diversity to the Pres. of the Canadian Centre for Management Development and Sheila Kamunyori, a programmer analyst for the UNESCO "Education for All" unit in Bangkok. They will join existing Board members Dr. Strangway, SSU Project Leader Peter Ufford and Strategic Counsel Blake Bromley.

The long awaited Mashiter Creek Bridge construction project will be awarded and work commencing by January 15, 2004 with an estimated completion date of July, 2004. Special attention has been paid to the integrity of the Mashiter Creek fish habitat and it will be monitored by Squamish-based Cascade Environmental Group through the Environmental Management Plan that forms part of the bridge contract.

More information on the Sea to Sky University Development can be viewed at www.SquamishRealtor.com, see Listings, New Developments.

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