Operational and Service Impacts Resulting from Job Action

As of Thursday, October 16, job action is affecting approximately 250 District of Squamish employees within CUPE Local 2269. This is resulting in closed facilities and cancellation of services that will impact residents.

Essential services will continue to maintain the health and safety of the community. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police response. 

In addition, non-unionized staff are redeployed to support priority work that would usually be completed by CUPE 2269 members.

“This is an extremely difficult place for us to be as this job action involves our people and teams who we appreciate deeply,” says District of Squamish Mayor, Armand Hurford. “We urgently want to get back to the bargaining table as the impacts to our Union employees and community are significant and growing. The previous job action of the last two weeks was unstainable, and we’re hoping to hear from the Union quickly on the most recent proposal they received from us.”

The District has not received any response from the Union to its latest proposal provided on October 4.

“We hear the Union on affordability and work/life balance and we also have a responsibility to the taxpayer,” continues Hurford. “We want a fair agreement that is fair to the taxpayer too, and this is the basis of our current proposal.”

The District made every effort to keep the arena and pool open by not including Brennan Park Recreation Centre as part of the lockout. Now that CUPE job action has impacted the facility, however, the ice will need to be removed and the pool drained given the requirement for certified operators for the operation and maintenance of ammonia plant and the pool.

“We appreciate how extremely difficult this is after the challenging year we have already had with both the pool and arena,” continues Hurford. “We are truly sorry this is impacting the community once again. Please know that every effort is being made to resolve this matter so we can get back to work and welcome people back to our facilities.”

The following impacts are a result of the job action.

Brennan Park Recreation Centre:

• The arena ice will be removed due to the inability to maintain the ammonia plant without certified operators.
• The pool will be drained due to the lack of certified pool operators to maintain water quality and facility systems. The pool reopening date originally scheduled for October 18 is now cancelled.
• The remainder of the Brennan Park Recreation Centre, including washrooms, will be closed October 16 to 20 due to the inability to provide custodial services. The closure will impact all programs and bookings running those days. Capacity to facilitate programming and bookings from October 21 onwards is still under review.
• Fall Aquatics program registration will not begin October 21 and is delayed indefinitely.
• Refunds for programs will be issued in due course. Customer emails can be sent to recreation@squamish.ca, though responses will be delayed. 
   

Brennan Park Fields and Lands:

• The turf field remains open. Portable washrooms will remain operational on Friday, then reassessed for availability.
• Grass fields remain open through the weekend and will be reassessed on Monday. Washrooms in the fieldhouse building will be open daily during pre-scheduled field use.
• Pickleball and tennis courts remain open.
• Other facilities such as the BMX track, the SORCA skills park and skate parks are not impacted. 
   

The 55 Activity Centre:

• The facility will remain open during regular operating hours, and remains open for previously booked events and rentals.
• Certain programs led by contracted instructors continue to be offered. 
• Programs led by Union employees are cancelled. 
• View the daily schedule at squamish.ca/seniors for a full list of offered programs.
   

Westwinds Programming:

• Certain programs led by contracted instructors continue to be offered. View the daily schedule at squamish.ca/seniors.
   

Municipal Hall:

• The facility remains open during regular operating hours for the intake of applications such as business licences, building permits, planning and environmental permitting applications.
• Financial services payments, including dog and business licence payments, can be completed online at squamish.ca/online-services. 
• Public washrooms are closed. Public washrooms at Junction Park (Cleveland Avenue between Victoria Street and Main Street) remain open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. 
   

Public Works:

• Essential services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control continue. 
• Non-unionized employees will complete work relating to District garbage bin collection and other tasks. 
• Weather-related issues are considered an essential service and will be actioned appropriately.  
   

RCMP Facility and Bylaw Services:

• The RCMP facility remains open and police services are not impacted.
• Urgent bylaw enforcement will continue to be actioned by other authorized agencies. Bylaw complaints can continue to be identified to bylaw@squamish.ca and will be prioritized accordingly. 
• Animal control services will be impacted, and the dog pound will be closed until further notice. Please contact the RCMP via the non-emergency line 604-892-6100, or 9-1-1 in an emergency, for any concerns related to dangerous dogs.
   

Squamish Landfill:

• Remains open. 
   

Squamish Fire Rescue:

• Fire rescue services are not impacted. 
   

Other impacts:

• Film and event permit applications are temporarily not being accepted. 
• Repair Café and Children’s Clothing and Toy Swap events are cancelled. 
• Budget Bingo and Budget Trivia nights next week are cancelled. 
   

Impacts and an FAQ will continue to be updated at Squamish.ca/strike. General inquiries can be emailed to info@squamish.ca.

October 16, 2025