Frequently Asked Questions

Community Agreements are how the District of Squamish formally collaborates with non-profit and charitable organizations to deliver programs, services, and infrastructure that benefit Squamish residents. These agreements are governed by the Community Agreements Policy, approved by Council on April 15, 2025.

No. A Community Agreement is not a grant. It is a formal agreement where both your organization and the District commit to delivering specific outcomes that benefit the Squamish community. Funding may come from a combination of your organization’s own resources, external sources, and a District contribution.

All Community Agreement projects must align with seven District principles: 

1. Support the goals of the Official Community Plan; 
2. Align with the Council's Strategic Plan Governing Principles; 
3. Align with District Master Plans including the Accessibility Plan, Climate Action Plan, and IDEA initiatives;
4. Increase community capacity; 
5. Encourage and foster volunteerism; 
6. Benefit District residents; 
7. Demonstrate cost sharing and cost effectiveness.

The following are not covered by this Policy:

• MOUs
• informal agreements
• agreements with for-profit entities
• sponsorships
• intergovernmental agreements.

 For-profit businesses, informal or unincorporated groups, and government bodies are not eligible to submit.

Community Agreements gives eligible non-profit and charitable organizations a clear and consistent way to formally collaborate with the District.

The program makes it easier to understand the process, timelines, and expectations, while creating opportunities for longer-term collaboration and shared impact. Community Agreements are not only about funding. It is about building stronger collaborations and supporting locally driven solutions that benefit Squamish residents.

• You are a non-profit society incorporated under the BC Societies Act, or a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Your organization is financially viable and in good standing.

For-profit businesses, informal or unincorporated groups, government bodies, and public agencies are not eligible to submit.

Yes. For 2026, the submission period is open to existing Community Collaborators that currently have an agreement in place with the District. As the policy rolls out in phases, future submission opportunities will be announced on this page.

A Fee-for-Service Agreement is a formal agreement between the District and a Community Collaborator to provide a specific service. Services are provided by the Community Collaborator to meet a particular need (e.g., professional advice or creative work). The agreement specifies what the Collaborator will accomplish in return for financial and/or in-kind support. The agreement must include the amount the District will be funding, the duration of the contracted service, and any other conditions that the Community Collaborator must meet.

An Operating Agreement is a formal agreement between the District and a Community Collaborator to operate a space, organization, or facility on behalf of the District (e.g., bike park or operational support for a non-profit). It specifies what the Community Collaborator will accomplish in return for the financial and/or in-kind support it receives. The agreement must include the amount the District will be funding, the duration of the contracted service, and any other conditions that the Community Collaborator must meet. 

A Capital Agreement is a formal agreement between the District and a Community Collaborator to fund or partially fund the development of a community-based capital project. A capital project refers to physical assets expected to provide benefits to the community over multiple years (e.g., new playground equipment or trail paving). The agreement must include the amount of funding to be provided by the District, the duration of the contracted service, and any other conditions that the Community Collaborator must meet.

All new Community Agreements start as Pilot Agreements and run for up to two years. At the end of the pilot period, the District reviews the results using agreed-upon measures. Successful Pilot Agreements may transition to Multi-Year Agreements, subject to Council approval.

Council, at its discretion, may allow a Community Collaborator’s project to forgo the Pilot Agreement stage and proceed directly to a Multi-Year Agreement with the District. See Appendix B of the Community Agreements Policy for Council Considerations to forgo the Pilot Agreement Stage.

A Multi-Year Agreement is a longer-term Community Agreement that follows a successful Pilot Agreement. Transitioning to a Multi-Year Agreement requires a re-evaluation process and Council approval.

Yes. If your organization is seeking an external grant and the District will be the grant recipient, or if grant funds will flow through the District to your organization, this also requires the Community-Initiated Agreement process. This ensures the District can assess its administrative capacity to manage the arrangement.

Before putting your submission together, contact the Community Partnerships Coordinator (CPC) at [email protected] to confirm your project is eligible. Then read the Project Submission Guide[HS3.1] carefully before completing the Community Agreements Project Form.

The submission deadline is generally set for September of that year to align with the District's financial planning and budget development process. For 2026, the submission deadline is September 30, 2026. Submissions received after this date will not be considered as part of the 2028 Financial Planning process. 

Submit your completed submission using the online link provided by Community Partnerships Coordinator during the submission period. Ensure all six sections of the Community Agreements Project Form are complete, and all supporting documents are attached. Incomplete submissions may be returned or not considered.

A complete submission includes all six sections of the Community Agreements Project Form, a signed Declaration, and all required supporting documents. Refer to the Submission Checklist in the Project Submission Guide before submitting.

• Answer your questions about Community Agreements and help you understand how your project fits its objectives and criteria.
• Connect you with District resources relevant to your project.
• Keep you updated as your project moves through the submission and review process.
• Provide a follow-up meeting at the conclusion of the review process.

• Assist with preparing or reviewing your submission or supporting documents.
• Adjust or waive policy requirements.
• Speak directly with any elected representative about your project.
• Unilaterally approve or reject a project without consulting impacted departments.
• Share information about other organizations or projects.

Yes. All projects and communications with the District are subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA).

No. The District reserves the right to withdraw from the process at any time without compensation to your organization or any associated individuals, consultants, for time or costs incurred.

All projects are scored by District Staff using standardized Evaluation Guidelines across three weighted sections. Projects must achieve a minimum of 75% in each section and 75% overall (37.5 out of 50 points) to move forward. Download the Evaluation Guidelines and Project Submission Guide[HS4.1] for full details.

Yes. Your project must meet the minimum score in each of the three sections independently. A strong score in one section cannot make up for a weak score in another.

Your tier depends on the total value of your project added up across all years, not just one year at a time. Projects valued at $75,000 or under are Tier 1. Projects valued over $75,000 are Tier 2.

You will receive confirmation that your submission has been received. District Staff may contact you during the evaluation to request clarification or additional information. You will be notified in April of each year if your project is recommended for inclusion in the draft budget. Final decisions are subject to Council budget approval.

All projects are evaluated by an Evaluation Panel to maintain a fair, objective, and transparent process. Potential conflicts will be considered as part of the evaluation.

Before submitting a project, review the District's Master Plans and Strategies and Bid Opportunities. The Master Plans and Strategies outline the District's priorities and timelines, while the Bid Opportunities website lists projects and initiatives currently in formal procurement involving for-profit organizations.  If you are still unsure, contact the Community Partnerships Coordinator at [email protected] before submitting.

The funding and in-kind support for each approved Community Agreement comes from the budget of the District department that enters into the agreement with your organization.

When a Community Agreement reaches the end of its term, the District reviews how well it performed, how it aligns with current goals, and the results it produced. The District will then decide whether to decline renewal, renew on the same terms, or renew with changes.

• Non-Compliance: Failure to meet agreed-upon deliverables or deviation from agreement terms.
• Mutual Consent: Both parties agree in writing to end the agreement.
• District Needs: Changes in District priorities, budget, or strategic direction.
• Misalignment with District Values: Actions by the Collaborator that violate District values.

A formal 30-day notice period applies. Any unused funding is subject to reimbursement or reallocation as specified by the District.

As part of the phased implementation, the District’s priority in 2026 is to work with existing Community Collaborators that currently have an agreement in place. As the policy rolls out, additional opportunities and updates will be shared through this website, and the District’s social media channels.

See Section 6 for a detailed process timeline.