Squamish Council has approved a process to help the volunteer run Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) to establish a permanent base on the waterfront.
RCMSAR Station 4 wants to build a joint facility at X̱wún̓eḵw Park that would give it dedicated moorage and training space, something it currently lacks. The RCMP’s marine patrol and Squamish Search and Rescue would also use the base.
Right now, RCMSAR ties its rescue vessel to the government wharf at the Squamish Harbour Authority, a temporary arrangement with no storage or training space on site.
Council voted unanimously to direct RCMSAR through the District’s Community Agreements Policy, the formal process for groups seeking municipal support. Councillors expressed strong backing for the work the all-volunteer organization does, but staff were upfront about the road ahead.
“Creation of a community marine safety facility would trigger significant design, construction, implementation, maintenance, and resourcing implications,” said Sarah McJannet, Manager of Community Planning. She also noted that the District “currently don’t have capital budget in our long-term financial plan for a marine focused facility at this time.”
The park’s current sea dike and foreshore upgrades, due to finish in late 2026, weren’t designed with motorized vessel moorage in mind. The Community Agreements Policy intake doesn’t open until fall 2027, and budget approval, if it comes, could be as late as 2029.
Mayor Armand Herford moved to broaden the motion’s language during the meeting, removing the words “operating and capital” from the original recommendation. He said he wanted to “cast a little bit wider net of ways that we could support and potentially facilitate things happening,” noting that municipal help is more likely to come through nominal leases on water lots, planning prioritization, or help applying for outside grants than direct funding. “The intent is it’s more open,” he said.
Councillor Jenna Stoner said the project fits into a broader shift in how the community sees itself. “I hope that there’s the beginning of a wholesome collaboration going forward, especially as we reorient our community to being more ocean forward and ocean focused.”
Further site planning is expected to be folded into the Parks and Recreation Master Plan update in 2027.
