Squamish Timeline

Squamish has a rich history that involves Indigenous heritage, colonial development and often overlooked multicultural contribution of the region. In our timeline, we have zoomed in to highlight major key events related to the immigration & settlement of the racially diverse community members.

Mid 1800s

From the early times, Squamish has been inhabited by the First Nations people. In 1874 there is a first record of a person of European origin settling down in the valley. Gold Rush has brough many immigrants in to the region.

From the racially diverse people, it was Chinese, Sikh and Japanese people who started arriving to Squamish. They spent most of their time hunting, trapping, logging and farming for work. It was very much men populated community.

1880s onwards

About 15,000 Chinese workers were helping building the railway. They built Squamish first dykes. After they were employed in hop fields, canneries and logging industry.

"Their community was a “bachelor society”, with many wives and families still in China. So, their own stories have not been passed down. " says local historian Eric Andersen

Chinese workers building the Great Northern Railway 1909.

photo courtesy of Squamish Public Library

1900s

Start of the logging industry in the region. There were many camps across the valley, which employed people from all over the world.

1904-1908

Arrival of over 5000 men from India in BC, East Indian workers arrive to Squamish to work and support their families back home.

South Asians settlement has been documented by a few people. Their history and contribution to the region has played a major role in today's look of the community.

Sikh worker with group off-loading PG ... 915_Squamish Public Library 26.20.jpg

Open with Smallpd

1904-1974

Britannia Mine operation: once the largest copper mine in the world employed many racially diverse workers. It had 2 townsites: Jane Camp and another one at the beach. These were company towns.

1912

Construction of the Fibre company started in 1910, pulp mill in Woodfibre produced in 1912. Woodfibre was a bustling community.

1920s

Around northern Howe Sound a community of Japanese immigrants and Nisei (second generation Japanese-Canadians) had become established especially at Woodfibre, but also at Britannia and various logging camps

1920s

Japanese workers were employed by the Britannia Mine

Late 1920s

Sikhs left the valley because of lack of jobs and there are no records of South Asians in Squamish for the next 30+ years

Early 1940s

It is estimated that around 500 Japanese men lived at Woodfibre (a small town 7km from Squamish and accessible only by boat), forced to leave in 1942.

“At Woodfibre, people from China – which was allied with the U.S. and Canada in the war – eventually replaced the Japanese workers, says Anderson.”

1942

Takeo Ujo Nakano was ordered to leave Woodfibre to Vancouver and then to BC interior camps.

Before WWII, Japanese Canadian families were a vibrant part of life in Howe Sound, with communities in Woodfibre, Britannia, and nearby logging camps. But in 1942, over 22,000 Japanese Canadians were forcibly removed from the B.C. coast, including many from this region. Despite wartime fear and discrimination, the RCMP later dismissed the idea of local espionage as baseless.

Takeo Ujo Nakano was an Issei poet and author of the memoir Within the Barbed Wire Fence, which recounts his experience of the Japanese Canadian internment in road camps and the Angler POW camp.

Born in Japan, Nakano immigrated to Canada in 1920, and was living in Woodfibre, BC with his wife and young daughter when he taken away from his family to work in an Alberta road camp. When he peacefully protested against his separation from his family, he was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Angler, Ontario.

1956

Train service between North Vancouver and Squamish began

1958

Completion of Vancouver- Squamish Highway, called Seaview Highway at that time. The travel was quite an adventure until then!

1960s

East Indian men started to bring their families to Squamish.

Resham Singh Sangha was one of the early East Indian pioneers who found their way and settled down in Squamish in the 1960s…with many others who came to Squamish to find work at the local number mills and then settled down to raise a family.

Swaran Kaur, the first South Asian woman in the community, assisted many families during the 60s and 70s with settling down.

The first South Asian school children in the community were Kalwant K. Biln, Jaswant K. Biln, and Jaswant S. Biln.

There were no shops with Indian spices, or restaurants until the 1980s

1962

The opening of a new sawmill by Welwood in Squamish brought many East Indian men in (by the early 1970s about 150 men were working there).

1964

First Sikh family to move into Squamish were the Mahngers, followed closely by the Ozlas

J.Singh Biln briefly documented a history of the first South Asians in the valley in his work.

1971

Squamish International Festival (later remaned Folk Fest) organized, showcasing local communities. It has become a popular event over the years. Squamish Historical Society has photo albums where you can see all the cultures at that time represented.

1972

Raj Sherman joined his father, Kumar Sharma, at the mill in Squamish. He later became MLA in Alberta and emergency doctor

1980s

Squamish Sikh Society incorporated, Sikhs started commercial and retail businesses and many have started commuting to Whistler for work.

1983

Until then, there was no Sikh temple in Squamish, so all religious functions such as weddings, funerals, celebrations were held in Vancouver.

Squamish Gurdwara was built by community members volunteers. Everyone helped! Since then it has become a place where everyone in the community is welcome to come in, sit in a prayer or silence, enjoy a community meal and connect.

1986

Squamish Days Parade had Sikh dancers performing

1990s

Sawmill jobs continue to decline. Significant new jobs in Whistler hospitality industry. Families moved to Squamish so that the family members could get jobs in Whistler.

Summer of 1993

Every July 1st since 1993, Multicultural Day at Totem Hall has brought people together to share food, music, and culture — hosted by Squamish Nation Elders and the Squamish Multifaith Association.

It all began when youth on Peace Bus ’93 stopped in Squamish and were warmly welcomed by the Squamish Nation. When a call for food and hospitality went out, the local Sikh and Baha’i communities responded with generosity — setting in motion a tradition rooted in kindness, shared stories, and mutual respect.

This #AsianHeritageMonth, we honour the spirit of togetherness and interfaith collaboration that continues to thrive here on Squamish territory.

1998

Federico and Cristina Angel immigrated to Canada from Colombia. They became owners of the Squamish Connector in 2014. Federico published The Memory of a Name memoir, remembering his childhood, story of immigration and settlement journey. Although living in Vancouver, Federico and his family have brought many positive changes to Sea to Sky corridor and their honest interest in helping and giving back to the community has paid off.

2005

The 2nd Vietnamese family in Squamish (the first had arrived in 1985) opens Classy Nails salon.

2006-2011

140 people from the Philippines came to Squamish

There used to be 2 Filipino stores in town, which meant more than simple being another grocery store in town. They served as a community hub for the growing Filipino community members, where they could buy products from their home, advertise for a service/look for an accommodation, childcare services, spread a word about events, parties and other get-togethers happening in town, and send parcels home.

2010

Doris Suarez published a book Halo Halo in the Snow documenting the stories of Filipino community members who immigrated to Squamish.

Check out the story of Doris.

2011

Squamish Multifaith Association was incorporated. It connects major faith traditions and cultures in town: Islamic Faith, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, The Sikh Way of Life, The Baha’i Faith, Squamish United Church, Squamish Shaker Church and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

2014

The Migrant Ministry was established by Sr. Josephine in Squamish due to the growing number of migrants coming and working in the Squamish-Whistler area. Pilipino Mass began to be celebrated also every third Sunday of each month.

The Church has always played a major role in the settlement process and served as a safe place where they could meet, connect and share together. There are many Filipino community members nowadays who activelly attend masses, volunteer and give back to the community and are part of the Sea to Sky Singers, the Squamish Choir.

Report abuse