Souvenirs from my Sea-to-Sky Work Away in the Canadian West
This spring, I spent a month in a British Columbia city sandwiched between Vancouver and Whistler: Squamish, an English adaptation of the First Nations word Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, which loosely translates to “Mother of the Wind” and “people of the sacred water”.
The municipality of 23,000 residents is nestled at the end of the Howe Sound and at the foot of the Coast Mountain range. The Sea-to-Sky Corridor, as it is aptly named, granted me access to glacial waters, temperate rainforest, volcanic mountains, granite monoliths, and ecological marvels.
My activities there included (but were not limited to) hiking, running, swimming, white-water rafting, sailing, and late-season skiing. And, best of all, a welcoming community with whom to enjoy them.
I brought back several souvenirs from Squamish, and this is my haul.
Bruises, Scrapes, and Muscle Aches
To connect with the team on East Coast hours, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. each morning to log on by 5:30 a.m. Besides the early wake-up call, my workdays weren’t much different from those in Boston: news and email monitoring, client-facing and internal meetings, writing, media outreach, and other daily account work. But in Squamish, I went outside promptly at sign-off.
It was on my daily hikes, which I typically researched the night or weekend prior, that I collected an impressive array of bruises, scrapes, and general wear and tear from scaling rock faces using iron chains and ladders. Unseasonably pleasant weather allowed me to be comfortably out in nature almost every single day of my month in Squamish, and though my schedule and scenery had shifted overnight, the impact of this change would creep up on me.
My average steps and mileage went up, my sleep improved, my appetite and cooking creativity grew. I was itching by the end of every workday to hit the trail. And as the end of my trip approached, with most of the must-dos checked off my list, I revisited some of my favorite hikes, runs, and glacial plunges.
And they still challenged me. But this time, I knew I could do it, because I had done these hard things before. In fact, doing difficult, unfamiliar things brought me some of the highlights of my Work Away.
Pyrite and Citrine, Panned by Hand
One of the few rainy days took me to the Britannia Mine Museum, where I took an underground tour of the remaining open tunnel in the Britannia Beach copper mine. On my way out of the museum, I stopped by the panning station. I retrieved sand from the bottom of a frigid trough and tossed it back and forth until I finally uncovered specks of pyrite and a vibrant orange citrine.
I panned and panned and was even joined by a school field trip at the station. In the end, my finds netted out to about a quarter teaspoon’s worth of treasure. So, I don’t think I’ll be retiring anytime soon. But the small bag of sparkly flecks is a reminder of the patience and presence I practiced during my Work Away.
A new environment prompted me to be more mindful: cataloging slugs, birds, and flora; learning about the Sea-to-Sky Corridor’s unique history and its lasting impact on daily life and infrastructure; and stashing away receipts, brochures, and postcards for my scrapbook. I brought that broadened mind’s eye to my clients while I was logged on and have been trying to remain tapped into it since my return.
Local Art and Jewelry
When I finally narrowed my prospective Work Away destinations to Squamish, I dove into housing research. There were Airbnb’s, a hostel, and hotels aplenty. But I’d be going by myself and to a destination with no language barrier hindering me. Could I live with a local? Could I be part of this community, even if only for a short while?
I met my roommates in a Squamish housing Facebook group. My room in their (and their dog, Kodi’s) home was the perfect adventure home base. They recommended local swimming holes, restaurants, and day trips, and told me about growing up in nearby Pemberton. We went on hikes, took trips into town, and shared many meals. But they also encouraged me to be independent and make the most of my visit.
Squamish is an incredibly active city. Even though I was there in the “shoulder” season (between the height of visitors for skiing and the peak of rock climbing in the summer), I was inspired daily by the grit, curiosity, and zest for life I felt among longtime residents and short-term visitors alike.
I came back with some small tokens of the Squamish community: a ring from the farmer’s market, earrings from a jeweler on bustling Cleveland Ave, an illustration of the gargantuan Stawamus Chief—all reminders that people and places play an important role in our own betterment.
What I’m Still Carrying
I’ve always been a sentimental person, a sucker for nostalgia. It’s been so rewarding to share my Work Away story with friends, family, colleagues—and, if I’m honest, a few strangers along the way. I’m confident I’ll hold onto these souvenirs for years to come, and I hope to return to Squamish. I know I have much more to learn from places and people like the ones I met there.
