The only waterfront property in Squamish, at the head of Howe Sound, was heavily-polluted industrial land, resulting in a toxic environment closed to public access. After 20 years of community visioning and effort and site remediation to remove toxicity Sp’akw’us Feather Park, on District of Squamish land, now provides year round recreational access to the ocean for the community of Squamish. The Sp'akw'us Feather Park Oceanfront Playground is now a key feature of the Park.
The Rotary Club of Squamish collaborated with the Park's developer, Matthews West Developments Ltd., to install the playground with support of The Rotary Foundation District 5040 Grant of $10,000. The District of Squamish maintains the Park and playground for the 23,000 residents of Squamish area and visitors.
The apartheid government of South Africa in the 1970s applied the Group Areas Act when it displaced and bulldozed an entire community of "Coloureds", as they were called (members of multiracial ethnic communities with ancestry from African, European, and Asian people), from Cape Town to the new community of Atlantis 40 km to the north. Atlantis now has 90,000 residents. Unemployment is high at 40% and suffers from lack of housing and a very high crime rate among its challenges. Many students arrive at their schools without having eaten any food in the morning or during the day.
In support of their community the Rotary Club of Atlantis has established gardens at 12 elementary schools to feed the children. The club also educates the students on how to grow vegetables and on environmental issues. It also operates two community soup kitchens to feed children and teens.
In December 2024, Rotary Club of Ladner member and Past District 5040 Governor Chris Offer, as a side trip on a personal tour along the African west coast, spent a day with members of the Rotary Club of Atlantis touring four of the community's schools and doing a volunteer shift at one of the local Rotary club's soup kitchens. Chris learned that funds are needed to purchase gardening equipment the children can use, and rice and corn meal to supplement the vegetables grown at the schools to feed the children. Atlantis was built on sand. So, to grow gardens, there is also the cost of bringing in soil. -- photos by Chris Offer
Achievements and activities of some of our clubs in Rotary District 5040 in the past 30 days or so. The photo features another successful season of Operation Red Nose by Rotary Club of Prince George Nechako.
Positive Peace Conversation
March 19th, 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Many of us in our communities have increasing difficulty in distinguishing between true and false information in the news media.
We experience news fatigue. We are often lost and overwhelmed in a sea of content where credibility is often unclear.
In a world becoming increasingly divided, how are you, as a Rotarian, called to be the bridge to positive peace in our clubs and communities? Join this professionally facilitated session that affects all of us.
The only waterfront property in Squamish, at the head of Howe Sound, was heavily-polluted industrial land, resulting in a toxic environment closed to public access. After 20 years of community visioning and effort and site remediation to remove toxicity Sp’akw’us Feather Park, on District of Squamish land, now provides year round recreational access to the ocean for the community of Squamish. The Sp'akw'us Feather Park Oceanfront Playground is now a key feature of the Park. 
