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A Necessary Shift : Where Resource and Recreation Meet

The fog creeping in and out of the tightly spaced Fir and Hemlock trees is ghostly – materialising  out of nothing and vanishing before realising it’s gone.  Bird calls and the creek and groan of the canopy are dampened, making everything sound distant.  Perched atop the stump of a large ancient cedar, I can see the vastness of this second growth forest.  The lack of low branches gives an airy appearance of standing inside an immense cathedral with pillars shooting skyward supporting a giant ceiling of green limbs, obscuring every ounce of light, if there was any to begin with.  This connection makes me feel at home.

Ben Haggar 1
Photo: Ben Haggar

Logging Heritage

Originally purchased for 25 cents per acre, this area of forest was first logged in 1927 by the American company Merrill & Ring. Old growth Cedar and Douglas Fir dominated the landscape stretching endlessly in every direction.  The hills surrounding Squamish are still green, but if you look closely, there are distinct lines delineating the darker natural first growth from the lighter, brighter patches of second and third growth forest.  Blocks of fast–growing monoculture fir and pine are replacing the vast natural diversity of species which gives the coastal forests of BC their natural resilience and disorderly beauty.

Shifting Values

Historically, British Columbia has placed value on land according to exploitative industrial uses and current market trends.  This is a difficult attitude to change after centuries, yet with a shift in social conscience and the high distinction placed on recreation and a connection to nature by many BC residents, the value of land is beginning to be seen in a new light.  Nature in its natural state is a very valuable commodity which cannot be manufactured, bought, sold, or traded.

Coexisting

Both forestry and mountain biking have a deeply rooted history in this area, shaping the lives and attitudes to those who call Coastal BC home.  With this photo, I wanted to show the paradigm shift in how we see value in land by juxtapositioning the old and the new economic drivers.  I understand that forestry is valuable and necessary, but it needs to be done differently.  Front country logging is unnecessary and harmful to one of BC’s leading sectors – tourism.  Clean, healthy dollars which are actually staying in the communities who are striving to protect their forests, instead of exporting profits to a corporate headquarters overseas or in far away cities. 

Mountain bikers are a creative and hardworking bunch.  You would be hard pressed to find another user group who would come out of a trail through a clearcut or scrappy second growth forest with a bigger smile on their face. This proves that there are ways to give worth back to land which has already been seemingly stripped of economic value, but really, it shouldn’t have to get to that point.  As towns like Squamish shift their focus from resource to recreation, I hope we can see a shift in environmental policy to reflect what is actually happening here on the ground.

Posted in: HABITAT, Heritage, LIFESTYLE Tagged: forestry, Mountain Biking

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Client Reviews

I highly recommend working with Alex both as a colleague and as a client

I have had the pleasure of working with Alex over the last couple of years in several different transactions, including one as a colisting partner, which gave me the privilege of seeing both how he works behind the scenes and on the front lines. Alex is an extremely hard worker, he gives every task his

Sophie Squamish June 17, 2018

I would never make a future real estate decision without Scott’s involvement.

Scott gives invaluable real estate advice. Both of his recommendations were spot on. We purchased in the ideal location and at the ideal time. I completely trust his instincts — I would never make a future real estate decision without his involvement.

Laura L Squamish homes August 10, 2018

I trust Scott’s experience!

I trust Scott's experience with Squamish real estate to help me make good investment decisions!

Timothy L. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

I completely endorse Scott

I met Scott by chance and he surpassed my expectations of what a realtor is all about and could do for me. Scott took the time to listen and truly understand what I was looking for. He has extensive knowledge of the Squamish area.

Christine M Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Kind, Caring and Knowledgeable

What a complete pleasure it is to work with Scott ! After being here for 6 months it is better than we could have imagined. I couldn’t recommend Scott more, both personally and professionally and some one we will be delighted to work with in the near future.

Jessica W. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Alex knows Squamish!

As an Ontario resident moving to Squamish, British Columbia, I was very happy with the service provided by Alex Vark. He, personally, took the time to drive us around the area to familiarize us with the town and various neighbourhoods. His knowledge and patience were most helpful. I recommend Alex as your Squamish Realtor!!

Corinne B Squamish homes January 10, 2019

Positive: Professionalism, Responsiveness

We worked with Alex to purchase a home in Squamish last fall. Alex was amazing. We felt like we were his only clients, and we felt like the purchase of the right home was as important to him as it was for us. Whenever we had a question, Alex was always quick to respond! He

Matt Sprunt Squamish Duplex August 1, 2019

“could not have been a more positive experience for us”

Working with Alex could not have been a more positive experience for us. Alex knew exactly what we were looking for and didn’t waste any time finding us the perfect home. Alex is professional, transparent, and clearly very experienced in the world of real estate. We felt like we were working with a friend rather

Lauren McGill & Max Barron Squamish November 17, 2019

We were very proud to have Alex represent us

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We were incredibly pleased with Alex's efforts in helping us find a home suitable to our needs. Our experience with Alex was far more desirable than with our previous realtor, who was foreign to Squamish. He provided us with many options, and was very detailed in his analyses of homes that we showed interest in.

Jess and Matt Squamish Townhome April 24, 2020

Dan Patching – Mortgage Broker

I just finished working alongside Alex as he helped my clients sell their condo in Squamish and buy a beautiful townhouse. Not only did he get them an amazing price for both, he also was extremely professional and quick to respond when questions were asked. It was a pleasure working alongside him, and anyone considering

Dan Squamish September 17, 2020

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MacDonald Realty - Squamish

Scott McQuade

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Scott’s Phone: 604-815-1985
Scott’s Email: scott@squamish.com
Alex’s Phone: 604-848-4997
Alex’s Email: alex@squamish.com

38090 Cleveland Ave
Squamish, BC V8B0A8

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