Province-funded Squamish Adventure Centre revitalization set to begin

Tourism Squamish virtual visitor centre open during renovations

February 13, 2023

Construction will soon begin on the revitalization plan for the Squamish Adventure Centre (SAC) made possible through Tourism Dependent Community funding from the Province of B.C. The $700,000 project will bring physical improvements to the SAC building to improve the visitor experience and economic viability of the building. The SAC will close for two months beginning February 24 while renovations are underway.

“The Squamish Adventure Centre is an iconic visual anchor in our community and a key point of entry for our visitors,” says District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “This funding from the Province allows us to improve the way in which we welcome visitors, introduce them to all our community has to offer, and inspire a culture of responsible tourism and recreation. We thank the Province for this funding that will allow us to modernize our tourism-oriented facility and create an enhanced experience for all that we welcome.”

Once complete, upgrades will include:

1. Immersive Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) Story tourism experience aimed at inspiring a new generation of travellers to Squamish.
2. Theatre improvements to increase flexibility and modernize the space for meetings, trainings and events.

“Tourism is one of our province’s most dynamic industries. Every day, people around the world are making plans to visit our great province,” says Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “I am pleased to see that our direct investment in tourism-dependent communities is benefitting the Squamish Adventure Centre. Investments in tourism infrastructure are integral to community vibrancy, continued recovery, and will benefit residents and visitors for years to come.”

The project is fully funded by the Tourism Dependent Communities Fund (TDCF), part of StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, intended to generate jobs, create valuable assets for communities and attract more visitors in the future as tourism economies emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Tourism Squamish and the Squamish Chamber of Commerce have been involved with the Squamish Adventure Centre in various ways since its inception,” says Tourism Squamish Executive Director Lesley Weeks. “The revitalization of this space supports our vision for the building and the organization as we enter this next phase of the tourism economy in the post-pandemic world.”

Tourism Squamish will continue to provide interim visitor services during the closure. For more information visit exploresquamish.com.

About the Squamish Adventure Centre

Built in 2006, the Squamish Adventure Centre is Squamish’s only purpose-built visitor centre. Known for its unique architectural design, the District of Squamish-owned venue welcomes thousands of patrons each year and contributes to the local economy as a visitor service centre, location for business meetings, training and events, and community meeting space. The Squamish Adventure Centre has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors through its doors, recording 200K guests in 2019.

February 13, 2023