Public safety is top of mind for many Squamish residents, whether we’re talking about neighbourhood streets, Highway 99, or the water. As more people live, work, and recreate along the oceanfront, questions about response times and emergency coordination on the water are coming into sharper focus. That conversation took a step forward this week with a formal request to the District to begin planning a dedicated Water Safety Facility in Blind Channel. The proposal is being framed by three of the agencies most involved in local rescue work as a practical way to strengthen community safety and prevention before emergencies happen.
In a letter to Council, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR), the RCMP, and Squamish Search and Rescue asked the District of Squamish to initiate design work for a water-safety facility on the municipal water lot in Blind Channel. The request was scheduled for Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00 p.m. According to the letter, Squamish currently has no dedicated water-safety infrastructure along the oceanfront, which limits emergency readiness in northern Howe Sound. The agencies say an appropriately located facility is urgently needed to improve response times, expand training capacity, and support public safety education.
The partners note that this gap has been years in the making. RCM-SAR reports that it has fundraised for a boatshed and training facility over the past five years but has been unable to move ahead without a long-term, secure location. To solve that, the volunteer organization has teamed up with the RCMP and Squamish Search and Rescue, which also needs secure moorage for its swiftwater jet boat. After looking at multiple options, the group identified the water lot fronting Xwúnekw Park and the east end of Main Street as the most feasible site.
The agencies describe several challenges driving their request. They report there is no existing water-based safety facility serving northern Howe Sound and that an exhaustive search found no available marina space that could accommodate the combined need for a boat shed, training space, and secure moorage. As a result, coordinated patrols are limited and response to marine emergencies can be delayed. In a town where kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and small boats share space with commercial and rescue vessels, the lack of a central, purpose-built base makes it harder to keep people safe when time matters.
What they are proposing is straightforward. The concept includes a boat shed and training space designed for two RCM-SAR Dedicated Response Vessels, equipment storage, and secure moorage for both a new RCMP patrol vessel and the Squamish Search and Rescue swiftwater jet boat. To balance operational needs with public access, the plan calls for a non-motorized access dock so paddlers and other users can continue to reach the water without overlapping with rescue operations. The partners say this approach preserves recreation while creating a safer and more efficient staging area for emergency teams.
Funding for the core facility is expected to come largely from the volunteer side. RCM-SAR states it will have the capital needed to construct the boat shed and training space. Operationally, the site would be shared by RCM-SAR, the RCMP, and Squamish Search and Rescue, with opportunities for joint training with Squamish Fire Rescue and BC Ambulance. According to the agencies, this co-location would support faster turnout and smoother collaboration across municipal, federal, and volunteer responders. The Squamish Paddling Club has endorsed the concept on behalf of the non-motorized recreation community, noting the value of separating paddlers from motorized rescue activities while maintaining public access.
The specific ask to the District is procedural but important. The groups are seeking Council direction for staff to work with RCM-SAR and the RCMP on a conceptual design for the Blind Channel water lot and to authorize staff to hire technical consultants and begin the required provincial and federal permitting reviews. If Council agrees, the next phase would include design development, permitting, and more detailed planning for how the facility would operate day-to-day.
For residents, the potential benefits are framed around prevention and preparedness. A well-placed base could cut minutes off response times in Howe Sound, give volunteer crews a reliable training venue, and provide a hub for public-safety outreach. The agencies say the facility would also make efficient use of municipal water-lot space without displacing marina users. Those advantages align with a broader safety mindset in Squamish: we plan ahead for where risks are most likely and invest in measures that reduce the chance of harm, whether that’s clear signage on the roads, flood preparedness, or reliable access for rescue boats.
This request also highlights how community safety depends on coordination across different jurisdictions. On the water, the RCMP, volunteer marine search and rescue, and ground search and rescue each play a role, often alongside municipal fire and provincial ambulance services. A shared operational base can help these teams train together and respond more consistently. For residents, coordinated systems are not just about headline emergencies; they support everyday prevention, from boater education and lifejacket awareness to clear separation between recreational users and rescue operations.
While this proposal centres on the waterfront, the public-policy questions are familiar to anyone who follows local road safety discussions. Where are the danger points? What infrastructure will make the biggest difference? How do we preserve access and recreation while keeping people safe? The Blind Channel proposal brings those questions into focus for our oceanfront. It suggests that with thoughtful design, we can both protect what people love about being on the water and ensure responders can act quickly when something goes wrong.
As with any project on the shoreline, there are steps to work through. Detailed design, geotechnical and environmental considerations, and the full suite of permits will take time. There will also be opportunities for public input on how the site functions, especially around the interface between non-motorized users and rescue operations. Residents who paddle, launch small craft, or spend time at Xwúnekw Park may be especially interested in how access points, signage, and traffic patterns on the water are organized. Early clarity about those details can help prevent conflicts and keep everyone safer.
At the time of writing, official comment from District staff and Council decisions on this specific request are pending. The partners note their intent is to bring forward a concept that meets operational needs while fitting local priorities for public access and environmental stewardship. If Council directs staff to proceed with design work and permitting, the District would lead the next phase in consultation with the involved agencies and the community.
For residents seeking updates, the District of Squamish posts Council agendas and decisions on its website, including staff reports and timelines for next steps. RCM-SAR, Squamish Search and Rescue, and the RCMP also provide public information about safety initiatives and training. We will share confirmed developments as they are available, including any decisions from Council on the Blind Channel concept, opportunities for public input, and timelines for design and permitting. In the meantime, the message from local responders is clear: planning ahead for a dedicated water-safety base is a practical step to support prevention, readiness, and coordinated response on our shoreline.
Whether on the road or the water, Squamish has shown that steady, evidence-based improvements make a difference. The proposed Water Safety Facility is one more example of that approach—focused on clear benefits, careful planning, and collaboration among the people who answer the call when we need them most.
The District of Squamish is expected to consider the request during its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00 p.m. If advanced, the next steps would include conceptual design, permitting reviews, and community engagement. Residents can follow the District of Squamish website and the channels of RCM-SAR, Squamish Search and Rescue, and the RCMP for verified updates.
