Garibaldi at Squamish Resort

Recently the controversial Jumbo Resort has made headlines as it tries to work its way through the courts in order to revive its development. Jumbo isn’t the only planned British Columbia resort that has made the news these past few weeks though. Garibaldi at Squamish, a resort that will be jointly developed by Northlands Properties and the Aquilini Group has largely been under the radar for the last few years but things may finally be ramping up and construction could begin in the next few years.

Proponents of the resort say it will lead to an increase in jobs for the region while opponents cite environmental concerns, an increase in traffic on an already overburdened Sea to Sky Highway, and little need for a new resort given the possibility of diminishing ski industry due to climate change. Plans for the resort have been modified to address some of the concerns that have been raised but ultimately the plan is for two villages covering 2759 hectares with multiple lifts on the mountain.

Will Garibaldi at Squamish turn into another Jumbo where an actual resort remains nothing more than talk? Does BC even need another ski resort? Will Garibaldi actually provide competition to Whistler/Blackcomb or will it compliment it? And finally, will we ever see another developed backcountry ski area much like the Hankin-Evelyn ski backcountry ski area in Smithers?

You can read more about the GAS resort and its plans here.