Unofficial summary · Not affiliated with the District of Squamish · 5-minute read · View in browser

Meeting: Special Business Meeting, Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Length: about 37 minutes (the meeting begins at 0:18:15 in the video)
Watch: Full video on YouTube · Agenda and reports: District of Squamish Council portal

Key decisions

RECEIVED · 2023–2026 strategic plan summary
Council received staff's summary of the work done under its strategic plan for this term, the only item on the agenda. Council's closing remarks were the debate on this motion, and the vote came after them.
Vote: unanimous. Moved by Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor French.

CARRIED · Agenda adopted
Moved by Councillor French, seconded by Councillor Stoner.

CARRIED · Meeting ended
Council voted to end the meeting after the closing remarks.
Vote: carried, with Councillor French opposed (in jest). Moved by Councillor Stoner (according to the Squamish Chief), seconded by Councillor Hamilton.

Recorded votes

Votes where members of council did not all agree. Unanimous votes are not listed.

• Motion to end the meeting: carried. Opposed: Councillor French (in jest).

What was discussed

Strategic plan summary and budget award

• The Chief Administrative Officer said a PDF summary of the strategic plan is online, and showed a video presentation without narration celebrating the term's work. Watch at 0:20:00
• Staff announced that the District had received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2026 budget, recognizing its commitment to the highest standards of budget planning and presentation. Mayor Hurford thanked the CFO and staff, and Councillor Andersen said it related to the 2025 financial plan process. Watch at 0:26:44
• No questions were asked about the report. Councillor Hamilton moved to receive it, and the closing remarks below were the debate on that motion. Watch at 0:28:56

Closing remarks from council

• Councillor Hamilton thanked staff, describing the last four years as an educational process. Councillor French spoke of pride in the work done together and thanked the people worked with over eight years on council. Watch at 0:29:01
• Councillor Andersen pointed to the work with the Squamish Nation, including the memorandum of understanding, the formal apology and the ta wanáxw sníchim (True Words) Report, to meeting challenges from other levels of government, and to the debris flow barrier built with a local developer. Watch at 0:32:18
• Councillor Stoner said council focused on long-term thinking, including changes to budgeting and asset management, and said about 95% of the strategic plan was achieved. Councillor Stoner also said outgoing members' phone numbers remain open to the incoming council. Watch at 0:34:30
• Councillor Greenlaw spoke of pride in the work with the Squamish Nation and in pushing for affordable housing and childcare, noted not having run for re-election, and did not rule out running in future. Watch at 0:38:16
• Councillor Pettingill (named by the Squamish Chief) said tax increases during the term were difficult but tied to infrastructure needs, noted that incumbents across the province did not do well in the election (Councillor Andersen is the only member of this council returning), and asked residents to give newly elected members time to learn. Watch at 0:40:03
• Mayor Hurford spoke about the weight of decisions made at the council table, said being strategic meant saying no to some things, and thanked residents. The Mayor spoke in support of the motion, and council then received the report unanimously. Watch at 0:43:58

Ceremonial gavel

• In a District tradition at the end of a term, the Chief Administrative Officer presented Mayor Hurford with a ceremonial gavel and thanked council on behalf of staff, mentioning the formal apology and the memorandum of understanding with the Squamish Nation. Watch at 0:50:03

Public input

No public delegations or public hearing speakers.

Following up

From earlier issues: None of the items we're tracking came up at this meeting. Still open and now passing to the new council: the November 10 budget workshop items (revised community safety approach, business case for the two removed capacity-funding items, development permit review costs, asset management reserve options and municipal hall lease funding), adoption of the Hunter Place rezoning and several housing agreement bylaws, and the 2027–2036 financial plan in December.

New items we'll watch for:

• The newly elected council taking office: sworn in at the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, November 3.

What's next

• Tuesday, November 3: The council elected on October 17 is sworn in at its inaugural meeting.
• November 10: Budget workshop pulling the 2027–2036 financial plan together.
• November: Budget public information night (date to be announced) and the next Woodfibre LNG / FortisBC quarterly update.
• December: The new council is expected to adopt the 2027–2036 financial plan.

Get involved

• The strategic plan summary is in this meeting's agenda package on the District's council page.
• Council meetings are open to the public in person at Municipal Hall or by livestream, including the new council's first meetings.
• The budget public information night in November is the main chance for residents to weigh in on the 2027 budget.

Terms used

CFO: chief financial officer · GFOA: Government Finance Officers Association · Strategic plan: council's list of priorities and objectives for its term · Receive: council formally acknowledges a report without approving new actions · Memorandum of understanding: a written agreement setting out how two governments will work together · Asset management: planning and saving for the repair and replacement of roads, pipes, buildings and other infrastructure.

Context notes

We check factual figures cited at the meeting against public sources where we can. These notes add context; they are not verdicts on any speaker.

• Population of about 30,000, up from about 16,000 (cited by Councillor Stoner): Statistics Canada's 2025 estimate puts Squamish at about 28,600, close to 30,000 (see the BC government's population estimates). Eight years ago it was about 21,000 to 22,000; 16,000 matches roughly 2007. Statistics Canada's 2021 census counted 23,819 residents.
• Budget award (announced by staff): the District's October 20 news release confirms the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2026 fiscal year.

Council Watch Squamish is an independent, unofficial summary of publicly accessible meetings of the Squamish Council. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the District of Squamish. This summary was generated by AI from an automatic transcript and may contain errors. Watch the linked video for the official record.

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