SVMF Questions Answered

Click on the links below to find answers to commonly asked questions about the Squamish Valley Music Festival.

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What to expect in 2015

• Will there be additional measures undertaken to address the risk of fire during this hot, dry summer?

  The festival organizer is working with Squamish Fire Rescue to develop a Fire Risk Management Plan that will address things like smoking in the trails (between festival grounds and campground), for example.

• What measures are being taken to protect our sensitive environmental areas and wildlife from additional garbage and other impacts?

  An Environmental Management Plan has been developed through a coordinated effort between: festival organizers, the District of Squamish, Conservation Officer Service, WildSafe BC, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

  The Plan is comprehensive, and aims to safeguard Squamish's sensitive areas from additional human and vehicular traffic and waste, as a result of the festival. The Plan includes the following (among other items):

  • Dike by Dog Pound on Government Road closed to vehicular traffic to prevent unauthorized camping along the Mamquam and Squamish Rivers.
  • Dike off Highway 99 leading to Squamish Valley Golf Club and Mamquam River spawning channels closed to prevent unauthorized parking and camping along the Mamquam River.
  • Squamish Valley Golf Club dirt parking lot on Mamquam Road closed with festival security personnel posted to deter unauthorized camping along the Mamquam River.
  • Centennial Way closed to traffic (except residents, businesses, Eagle Vista RV Park and campground patrons, and cars with festival parking decals) to prevent unauthorized camping along the Mamquam River and mitigate any damage to the spawning channels during the pink salmon run.
  • Loggers Creek Trail access points off Finch Drive and Loggers Lane fenced off in an effort to prevent unauthorized camping and dumping of garbage/attractants.
  • Entrance to Spit and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will be gated and attended by festival security personnel in an effort to screen and prevent unauthorized camping within the WMA.
  • Festival security personnel will patrol all above locations to ensure the environment is not negatively impacted.
  • Roving festival 'Green Teams' will be in all locations picking up garbage and ensuring wildlife attractants are not left accessible.

• How will vehicle traffic be managed on Highway 99 and arterial roads as campers arrive?

  The SVMF will continue to build on its successes of 2014 with camper check-in taking place in Britannia Beach. 

  A comprehensive traffic management plan builds on the successes of last year, and addresses feedback from the community. Many more traffic control points have been planned for this year with the goal of improving safety and reducing congestion across the board.

• Will any trails be closed during the Festival?

  Locals may find some trails shut down, limited or access monitored during the Festival beginning Wednesday, August 5. We ask for your patience as we work as a community to protect sensitive areas from wayward festival goers looking for free camping, or from additional fire hazards. The intention is to keep out or screen for illegal campers, not to restrict locals from legitimately accessing the areas.

  • Dike by Dog Pound on Government Road closed to vehicular traffic to prevent unauthorized camping along the Mamquam and Squamish Rivers.
  • Dike off Highway 99 leading to Squamish Valley Golf Club and Mamquam River spawning channels closed to prevent unauthorized parking and camping along the Mamquam River.
  • Loggers Creek Trail access points off Finch Drive and Loggers Lane fenced off in an effort to prevent unauthorized camping and dumping of garbage and wildlife attractants.
  • Entrance to Spit and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) gated and attended by festival security personnel in an effort to screen and prevent unauthorized camping within the WMA. 

  The Corridor Trail in both directions north and south of the Festival grounds will be main arterial trails for festival goers to travel from the campgrounds to the festival site. These trails will be busy - slow down and embrace the festival vibe! Please be sure to use lights on your bike if riding after dark. If you don't like crowds, maybe give these trails a miss for this weekend.

  For now, Discovery Trail remains open, but will be patrolled by security. A closure is still being considered from a fire protection perspective during this extreme fire hazard. Stay tuned for updates.

Benefits to Squamish

• What is the economic impact of the SVMF to Squamish?

  A report released in September 2013 through the Conference Board of Canada’s “Festival and Events Assessment Model” revealed the 2013 Squamish Valley Music Festival generated a total of $18.7 million of economic activity in BC. Over $9.9 million was spent in the local community, bringing the total impact to the Squamish area to an estimated $16 million since the festival’s launch in 2010.

  The 2013 festival also generated over 178 million impressions through a media advertising and promotion package valued at $1.2 million dollars. Read the full release.

  Called one of the most significant music events in BC history, the 2014 festival is expected to generate in excess of $55 million in economic spin off directly into the region.

• What kind of trickle-down effect does the SVMF have on Squamish?

  The "multiplier effect" of events and tourism is significant and creates a trickle-down effect into the local economy that benefits the entire community – not just those businesses or individuals that receive a direct benefit from SVMF.
  
  Attendees of the SVMF spend high volumes of money directly with a wide range of local businesses such as: accommodation providers, restaurants, coffee shops, retail outlets, grocery/liquor stores, gas stations, the farmers market, etc. This in turn helps those businesses flourish and helps to maintain a stable retail base in Squamish year-round through creating indirect and induced employment in the community.

  Attendees are also exposed to one of the most beautiful communities in the province. Many of the young people who attend the SVMF today are potentially high-spending tourists years from now, possibly arriving with their children in the future to visit Squamish attractions, stay in Squamish hotels and eat in Squamish restaurants.

  Awareness via the immense publicity that surrounds SVMF also supports Squamish’s economic growth in many ways, drawing attention to Squamish in new ways and to new audiences. When looking to attract businesses and new residents here, Squamish is now a town where things happen, and where people want to be. The SVMF has been a factor in this new positioning. 

• What is the overall investment being made into the Squamish Valley Music Festival?

  Overall investment in the Squamish Valley Music Festival is in excess of $12 million for 2014.

  “This event represents a turning point not only for BC’s live music industry, but also for Canada’s event industry as a whole. To date, Squamish is Eminem’s only Festival announcement in 2014, and will be his first western Canadian show in more than a decade.” ~ Paul Haagenson, President, Live Nation Canada

  Headliner Bruno Mars picked up the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and performed at the 2014 SuperBowl XLVII Halftime Show, While Arcade Fire has gone from Canada’s little secret to global superstardom.

Logistics

• Will the public have access to Brennan Park Recreation Centre during the SVMF?

  Brennan Park will be closed to the public for swimming, programs etc. for four days from August 7 to 10. The Recreation Centre and Parking Lot will re-open on August 11 with limited access (i.e. SVMF clean-up will still be underway). Full uninterrupted access will be available August 12.

• Why are Centennial Fields closed for a full month?

  Centennial Fields, as well as the Artificial Turf field will be closed from July 31 to August 15 for the SVMF. Centennial Fields will then remain closed August 16 to 31 for the annual maintenance program (subject to weather). Henderickson Fields and the Artifical Turf field will be open during this maintenance timeslot. 

• Who is responsible for the costs of field maintenance and restoration if any damage is incurred?

  The SVMF producers, at their sole cost and expense, must ensure that the Licence Area is restored and returned to the same clean and safe condition that it was in at the commencement of the event. In the event of significant damage, an additional period of time to restore the area may be granted.

• How will traffic be managed for the 2014 SVMF?

  For 2014, the SVMF has been working with the same transportation expert who oversaw the entire transportation program for VANOC during the 2010 Games.

  SVMF organizers are planning a town hall meeting in April 2014 to share more details with the community. 

   

Tickets and Access

• Will there be a special ticket sale for Squamish residents?

  Squamish locals were invited to a Squamish Valley Music Festival Presale Event at the Adventure Centre on Thursday, February 6th from 10am - 4:30pm. Click here for full details.

  General public onsale begins at 10 a.m. Friday, February 7th. Click here for more details.
  

• What age are kids allowed into the Festival free of charge?

  From the SVMF Website...

  10 years old and under go free when accompanied by a full paying adult. Each child must have 1 paying adult accompanying them.  Please bring proof of age as our security staff are good but not psychic. All ages are welcome at our festival, however licensed areas will be for those over 19 only - this includes the VIP area.

Licence Agreement

• What are the components of the Licence Agreement?

  The following table represents a summary of the key terms of the Licence Agreement:

  Licence Area	Approximately 27 hectares of land and the Ice Arena at Brennan Park Recreation Centre, as outlined in red in Schedule A. Does not include Loggers Sports Area. Licence for Loggers Sports to be reached under separate agreement.
  Term	November 6, 2013 to August 12, 2021
  Licence Periods	Approximately two weeks each year commencing late July/early August.
  Licence Fee	Event is intended to be cost-neutral to the District of Squamish. The District is to recover additional expenses incurred as a direct result of the festival including: Pre and post event Additional Field Maintenance estimated at but not to exceed $68,000 plus annual increases of 2%. Based on formula of additional field maintenance of $7,700/ha x 8.8 ha of land outlined in orange in Schedule A. Additional RCMP, Bylaw, Fire and out of pocket expenses incurred by the District.
  Security Deposit	$10,000
  Permitted Use	Squamish Valley Music Festival concerts.
  Festival Guidelines	The Licence Agreement includes guidelines for operating the festival, developed based on experiences and community feedback following the 2013 event. The Guidelines focus on: Waste Management, Environment, Traffic, Public Health, Safety, and Community Relations.
  Event Management Plan Requirements	An overall Event Management Plan will be provided to the District in spring 2014 incorporating many pre-specified requirements, demonstrating how the event producers will uphold the Festival Guidelines specified above. The event producers will host a public open house event to share an overview of these plans.
  Field Conditions	The event producers will return the fields in good, clean condition after the Festival is over.
  Termination Clauses	The District can terminate the agreement upon one year’s notice if the event producers fail to properly conduct the festival in accordance with the Licence Agreement, resulting in serious public safety and health hazards and injury to persons. The District can reduce the size of the festival if the event producers fail to properly conduct the festival in accordance with the Licence Agreement, resulting in significant issues regarding waste management, traffic, environmental or other key performance areas. The event producers can terminate the agreement.
  Phasing Plan	The Licence Agreement outlines the Phasing Plan for the event’s use of Brennan Park each year. Brennan Park Recreation Centre will re-open for community use by the Tuesday following the event and the lands at Brennan Park will re-open on the Friday following the event.

• How long is the new Licence Agreement with the SVMF producers in effect for?

  The new agreement, which includes the expanded area of land at Brennan Park, will be in effect until August 12, 2021. The agreement is between the District of Squamish and the producers of SVMF– Live Nation Canada in partnership with festival creators brand.LIVE Management Group. The previous operating agreement with Brand.Live had been in effect since the event began in 2010.

• What is the Licence Fee for the lands that the SVMF will use?

  The Licence Fee for the SVMF lands is $68,000 plus annual increases of 2%. This is based on a formula that takes into account additional field maintenance per hectare. A licence fee for the camping lands is still being negotiated as part of a separate Licence Agreement for those lands.

  Festival producers will also be responsible for additional RCMP, Bylaw, Fire and out of pocket expenses incurred by the District.

• Who is responsible for the costs of field maintenance and restoration if any damage is incurred?

  SVMF producers, at their sole cost and expense, must ensure that the Licence Area is restored and returned to the same clean and safe condition that it was in at the commencement of the event. In the event of significant damage, an additional period of time to restore the area may be granted.