The District of Squamish has received $601,615 from the province to reconstruct the Don Patrick Field runway at the Squamish Municipal Airport.
The funding will allow for full reconstruction of the runway. Work is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2021.
This project is 75% funded by grants, and the total cost of the project is $802,153.
The Squamish Municipal Airport was renamed Squamish Municipal Airport – Don Patrick Field on June 16, 2020 to commemorate the extraordinary community service and contributions made by Squamish resident Don Patrick.
Don Patrick is a 50-year Squamish Flying Club member who led the airport’s operations until its transfer to the District of Squamish in 2002.
Identified in the Sea to Sky Multimodal Evacuation Plan as critical emergency infrastructure, the airport is a general aviation airport that supports medevac and wildfire operations and response, flight tourism, and emergency operations.
This year marks the 50th year of airport operations.
“Our airport is a critical piece of emergency response infrastructure and one that we would rely on heavily in the event of a major emergency or evacuation,” says Mayor Karen Elliott.
“Having a well-functioning airport is also essential, and this project will ensure a safe and efficient airport environment for all of our airport users and passengers,” she said.
The province is also funding airport revamp projects in Sechelt, Bella Coola and Boundary Bay.