The Fraser Valley District has approved a formal community plan for the Hemlock Valley area, which includes the Sasquatch Mountain Resort. “We have been in the planning phase for the last five to six years and it is really exciting to finally move into the development phase,” said Johanne Dyck, the resort’s general manager. Sasquatch’s proposal will create new apartments, hotels, restaurants and retail spaces over a period of 15 to 20 years. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. “All of this is to help bring this resort community closer to feeling where you can walk from one area to another like you would see at Sun Peaks or Whistler Village,” Dyck said. During peak periods, the resort currently receives 1,600 to 2,100 visitors daily. But the long-term plan is to increase it to 16,000, with a total of 23 lifts and more than 280 mountain runs. “It’s a beautiful place,” said Doug Janzen, who has been skiing in Sasquatch for about 50 years, adding that the resort has been waiting a long time for expansion. “But I would be absolutely happy if it remained as it is, because it is already very good,” he said. Skier Andrew Edelson calls Sasquatch “a hidden gem.” “I think it’s great for the mountain. (Will) be nice to expand. Take a few more runs. “Get some very good chair lifts,” Edelson added. Sasquatch is already in business all year round this summer with the opening of an air park, a golf course and new hiking trails. Next summer they will start working on mountain coasters. “It’s really exciting. It would bring a lot of opportunities, “said Jason Lum, Fraser Valley Regional President. But he said the huge project also faces challenges. “There will be… challenges with infrastructure, challenges with service, you know? There will be challenges to access the mountain. “There will be environmental concerns, I’m sure,” Lum explained. “Exactly the volume of traffic and its transformation into a multi-season resort, there will certainly be obstacles to be overcome and very good discussions to be made with the residents… who will be affected, with the first nations in the region.” The project is estimated to cost more than $ 2.5 billion.
