Informal neighbourhood areas

Comprehensive demographic dataset for Squamish, BC, CA including population statistics, household income, housing units, education levels, employment data, and transportation with year-over-year changes.

Community Natural Gas Consumption | Squamish Community DashboardThis indicator measures all community natural gas consumption, which includes residential and commercial use but not industrial and institutional uses. This indicator is affected by population growth and also year-to-year weather variability.About this target:45% reduction in community natural gas consumption by 2030.Analysis:This information is tracked by Fortis BC and has been made available to the District of Squamish. Despite the increase in Squamish's population to 24,000, there has not been a significant rise in natural gas consumption as might have been expected, largely due to shifts in behavior and a preference for electrifying homes.Reason for monitoring:Buildings account for 28% of community emissions, and two of the six Big Moves in the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) are 'Construct Better Buildings' and 'Decarbonize Existing Buildings'. Significant growth is anticipated in Squamish, and it is important to meet this ambitious target while accommodating population growth. There are important opportunities to lower or avoid natural gas consumption in new buildings.

Annual population estimates as of July 1st, by census metropolitan area and census agglomeration, single year of age, five-year age group and gender, based on the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2021.

Waste Disposal per Capita | Squamish Community DashboardThis indicator tracks the total amount of waste disposed through the curbside residential collection program in Squamish, and all other waste that arrives at the Squamish landfill including waste from apartments, condominiums, commercial businesses, institutions, and the construction and demolition sector. The measure is reported relative to the District's annual population (Stats Canada, Squamish Census Agglomeration) .About this target:Near-term target: An average annual waste disposal of 300 kg per capita is targeted by 2021 (District of Squamish Council Strategic Plan). This target is calculated by dividing the total amount of waste disposed to landfill in a year by the population of Squamish. Following are the targets as per the Zero Waste Action Plan (2022)Target: to reach 90% less waste by 2040, which is equivalent to 50 kg (or 0.05 tonnes) per capita.Interim target: 248 kg (or 0.248 tonnes) by 2030 (reflecting approximately 50% less).Context: In 2018, 10,727 tonnes of waste were disposed at the landfill or 496 kg (or 0.496 tonnes) per capita.Analysis:In 2024, 12,563 tons of waste were disposed at the District's landfill from residents and businesses in Squamish. This amount averages to 431 kg of waste disposed per person for the year, which reflects a marginal increase from the year before. Since 2015, this rate was gradually decreasing until 2023, with the exception of 2019 & 2020 (which in 2020 a industry-wide trend due to the COVID pandemic). It was found that while the tonnage of waste collected through the residential curbside collection services remained relatively the same from 2023 to 2024, there was an increase of almost 3% in the tonnage of waste produced by the commercial sites (including the construction industry) and multi-family homes in Squamish. In 2024, the residential curbside collection service accounted for 21% of the waste received at the Squamish Landfill, whereas that produced by the commercial sites and multi-family homes accounted for 78% of the waste that was disposed of at the Landfill. Reason for monitoring:Reducing, reusing, recycling, recovering, and managing the disposal of residual solid waste minimizes environmental impacts and supports sustainable environmental management, greenhouse gas reductions, and improved air and water quality.Waste Diversion Rate | Squamish Community DashboardThe Diversion Rate measures how much waste is diverted from the Squamish landfill, and is either recycled or composted instead.About this target:Generation Rate*:This data point combines the amount of material diverted to recycling and compost, divided by the population in that year. This is an important indicator, as all materials used have a footprint, and this target aims to reduce the total amount of materials used (i.e., the discards generated).Target: to reach 50% less materials used by 2040, which is equivalent to 603 kg (or 0.603 tonnes).Interim target: 25% less, which is 904 kg (or 0.904 tonnes) by 2030.Context: In 2018, the generation rate was 1,231 kg (or 1.23 tonnes) per capita.Disposal Rate*:This target is calculated by dividing the total amount of waste disposed to landfill in a year by the population of Squamish.Target: to reach 90% less waste by 2040, which is equivalent to 50 kg (or 0.05 tonnes) per capita.Interim target: 248 kg (or 0.248 tonnes) by 2030 (reflecting approximately 50% less).Context: In 2018, 10,727 tonnes of waste were disposed at the landfill or 496 kg (or 0.496 tonnes) per capita.Diversion Rate:This target is calculated by dividing the total amount of material collected for recycling and compost, by the population of that year.Target: By 2040 achieve a waste diversion rate of 90% waste diversion rate (Official Community Plan Target).*Targets for these indicators are linked to the 2022 Zero Waste Action Plan.Analysis:In 2024, approximately 16,486 tonnes were recycled through existing recycling programs that are offered at the Squamish Landfill’s Recycle Depot and through curbside collection (this does not include recycling collected from businesses or multi-family homes with centralized recycling collection, or at the local Recycle BC Depot or other Extended Producer Responsibility collection sites in Squamish). This corresponds to an overall diversion rate in 2024 of 57%. This rate is slightly higher than in 2023 (56%). As mentioned above, the diversion rate does not include the volume of material that is diverted by businesses within the community.

The 2024 waste composition analysis provides insight into the diversion opportunities related to what is ending up in the Landfill. It was found that overall only 30% of the material going into the Landfill should be there, whereas 70% of the materials could be potentially recycled, composted, or reused. Using a weighted average, it was found that organics (34.4%) made up the largest diversion opportunity, with avoidable food waste (8.1%) and wood that could be composted or go to co-generation (7.9%) as the highest organic material categories found, followed by yard waste (4.1%). Paper (13.9%) and plastic (13.2%) were the next two largest categories that could be diverted found in the waste at the Landfill. Reason for monitoring:Future-focused environmental stewardship, which incorporates community-wide waste reduction, is one of the guiding principles of the District of Squamish Council's Strategic Plan.

Populations certified by the Minister of Community and Rural Development under section 783(3) of the Local Government Act, effective December 1, 2007. These population figures are only to be used to determine voting strength and Director representation. Population includes people residing on Indian Reserves. Includes boundary revisions to December 31, 2006.

Populations certified by the Minister of Community and Rural Development under section 783(3) of the Local Government Act, effective December 1, 2007. These population figures are only to be used to determine voting strength and Director representation. Population includes people residing on Indian Reserves. Includes boundary revisions to December 31, 2006.

Emergency Notification System Registrations | Squamish Community DashboardThis indicator measures the number of resident registrations for SquamishAlert, an emergency notification system that enables the District of Squamish and the Squamish Nation to communicate important information quickly in the event of emergencies. SquamishAlert and Squamish Nation Alert systems are powered by Voyent Alert. This free service is offered to all residents living in Squamish. The system enables the District of Squamish and Squamish Nation to provide critical information, such as severe weather, wildfire, floods, debris flows, unexpected road closures, and any other emergency event that could impact the community. About this target:The District aims to increase SquamishAlert subscriptions year over year, with the goal of having 40% of the local Squamish population aged 15 and up registered for electronic emergency notifications. Analysis:By the end of 2024, 6,178 residents were registered for Squamish’s emergency notification system. This number represents 29% of the total population aged 15 years and older in the District of Squamish. Registrations have increased each year since 2022. In July 2021, the District of Squamish improved the ability for residents to subscribe to SquamishAlert by switching to a new provider and simplifying the signup process. An extensive outreach campaign, coupled with a number of major emergencies last year, have resulted in a significant increase in the number of people who are subscribed. By the end of 2021, 7,067 residents had registered for Squamish’s emergency notification system, representing an increase in registrations of 36% over the previous year (2020). *Note: In 2022 when SquamishAlert version 2.0 was released, all contact points were merged. This caused an administration issue which created two separate accounts for a subscriber who had signed up for both phone calls and text messages —this issue was later fixed and these accounts were merged into its subscriber account. As a result it appears that fewer people registered during this time period in 2022. Reason for monitoring:The District and Squamish Nation's emergency network supports coordinated emergency response and communications vital to building greater preparedness and resilience to adverse events.

The survival, growth and fecundity of a transplanted barnacle population at the Squamish estuary, British Columbia, were studied for one year. The transplanted barnacles were found to show poor survival, fecundity and growth compared to a control population in West Vancouver. These were related to the prevailing stress conditions of low, fluctuating salinity and high turbidity at the estuary.