Squamish Circular Economy
Circular Economy Squamish
Accelerating the transition to a circular economy is recognized as an opportunity for new jobs and environmental sustainability. The circular economy provides a framework for achieving climate action commitments and nurturing a prosperous and equitable future for residents and businesses.
The District of Squamish has been working to align its economic development strategy with its long-term sustainability goals and climate plans. This includes recent investments in its Economic Action Plan, Emerging Sector Roadmaps and business resiliency programs, alignment with the Doughnut Economics framework, and its Community Climate Action Plan.
In October 2023, the District of Squamish Circular Economy Roadmap and Implementation Plan was endorsed by council.
District of Squamish Circular Economy Framework
Bringing these elements together, the District of Squamish has drafted a Circular Economy (CE) Roadmap to support economic prosperity in the region while delivering additional environmental and social benefits to the community. The CE Roadmap aligns with global, national, provincial, and regional trends and includes a focus on building the ecosystem, linking with the research community, and supporting local businesses, including across three key sectors: construction and the built environment, food, and textiles.
Circular Economy Roadmap launch and stakeholder workshop
The District of Squamish held a 3-hour virtual workshop on November 26, 2021 that introduced the District's draft Circular Economy Roadmap and gathered input and ideas from participants regarding local circularity.
Led by Paul Shorthouse, Senior Director at The Delphi Group and Managing Director of Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC), the event included interactive breakout discussions explored how Squamish’s CE Roadmap could best leverage the global groundswell toward a more circular economy, support the Squamish community and local businesses, attract investment and talent to region, and deliver on climate and environmental goals.
Speakers included Tima Bansal, Canada Research Chair in Business Sustainability at the Ivey Business School and Chair of the Expert Panel on the Circular Economy in Canada from the Council of Canadian Academies who shared key insights from their major 1.5-year research study and report on the circular economy opportunities for Canada – released the day prior to the event. Local company, Nexii, and not-for-profit organizations, Under One Roof and SquamishCan, shared their actions towards a circular economy.
Circular Cities and Regions Initiative
In August 2022 the District of Squamish was one of ten local governments to be welcomed into the 2022/23 Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). Founded through a partnership between the National Zero Waste Council, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, RECYC-QUÉBEC, and the Recycling Council of Alberta, the CCRI is designed to support Canadian communities on their unique journey to circularity. Through the network, community leaders learn and share best practices for implementing circular economy strategies and policies, and have important access to mentorship and support from advisors representing leading Canadian and international circular economy educators and practitioners.
Circular Economy Trailblazer Program
In 2024, the District of Squamish launched its first-ever Circular Economy Trailblazer Program, aimed at training local businesses and non-profits to adopt circular economy practices and support them in developing and implementing their own solutions. Fourteen Squamish organizations successfully completed the first cohort, showcasing impressive implementation projects. The Trailblazer Program is designed to foster community-wide engagement by promoting sustainable practices and offering customized support to help transform intentions into tangible actions.
Discover the Trailblazer Program!
Is your organization interested in advancing Squamish’s circular economy?
Visit the Circular Economy Trailblazer Program page to learn more and apply for the program.
Tune in to the Squamish Trailblazer Program webinar, marking the beginning of the journey for participating businesses and nonprofits into circular economy principles and strategies.
In June 2024, the District of Squamish participated in a three-day workshop in Mississauga, joining other CCRI municipalities to exchange best practices for implementing circular economy strategies and policies in diverse communities. Squamish shared its own insights and gained valuable knowledge from others.
In September 2024, the District of Squamish was featured alongside the City of Richmond in the national report Creating Circular Economy Roadmaps for Stronger Communities by the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). The report highlights the progress Canadian communities are making in adopting circular economy strategies to strengthen local economies and drive climate action.
The Circular Economy Roadmap and Implementation Plan is central to Squamish’s sustainable future, using a systems-thinking approach to address material and energy flows across sectors. This transition fosters innovation, decoupling material consumption from economic growth, and creates prosperity, jobs, and resilience, while reducing biodiversity loss, emissions, waste, and pollution.
Alongside Richmond, Squamish is paving the way for a more circular and resilient future.
The District of Squamish has launched the 2024 Circular Economy Micro-Grants Program and Innovation Challenge, funded by the Province of BC’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). With $50,000 allocated for Micro-Grants and $60,000 for the Innovation Challenge, these programs aim to support businesses and non-profits in transitioning to sustainable circular practices. The funding encourages innovation and the implementation of solutions that address community needs, foster new business growth, support expansion, and create jobs in Squamish.
Discover more about the programs and view the grant guidelines
“In Squamish, our sustainability team focuses on implementing strategies and programs, building on our ongoing zero-waste efforts, while the economic development team works on partnerships, innovation, and ecosystem development. Both are essential. Don’t skip the tactical work for the sake of aspirational goals that will take longer to achieve. They need to be done in tandem.”