Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) is a beautiful community in British Columbia located at the end of Howe Sound, on the doorstep of the Tantalus and Garibaldi mountain ranges.
The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw have lived in this area for more than 10,000 years. Prior to, and following the arrival of Europeans in the late 1700s, the lands and waters were used and occupied either exclusively, or jointly with other First Nation neighbours (Lil’wat, səlilwətaɬ, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, shíshálh, Tla’amin) including some of the present-day cities of Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster, all of North and West Vancouver, Port Moody and all of the District of Squamish and the Municipality of Whistler. Squamish culture was created from these lands, waters, and people over generations and its people continue to practice many of the traditions, customs, and ways of their ancestors and pass them onto future generations.
Once known as a rural logging town, Squamish is quickly transitioning into a world-renowned adventure and tourism destination.
Squamish General Hospital is a 16-inpatient-bed rural hospital with an 11-bed emergency department and an obstetrics ward that attends to almost 400 births/year. Local specialists include FP Anesthetists and Obstetrician/Gynecologists, with access to Psychiatry, Orthopaedic, and Pediatric supports. There are 3 family practice clinics in town and a walk-in clinic which is jointly operated by our local family physicians. Squamish family physicians enjoy a diversity of practice, blending clinic and hospital work in a manner that affords patients significant continuity of care. This also provides practitioners with the support of a robust, collegial medical community.