More than 70 years rooted in Squamish.
John came to the Squamish area in 1955, grew up in Britannia and graduated from Howe Sound Secondary School in 1964. Squamish became the place where he built his career, raised his family and spent decades contributing to the community.
A life built
here.
John Lowe has called the Squamish area home for more than seven decades.
He arrived in the area in 1955, grew up in Britannia and graduated from Howe Sound Secondary School in 1964. Squamish is where he built his career, raised his family and spent much of his life volunteering and contributing to the community.
Over those decades, John has watched Squamish change enormously. He remembers an era when community projects were often built through a combination of fundraising, volunteer labour and residents deciding that something needed to be done.
That experience shaped his belief that strong communities are built when people work together, look for practical solutions and find a way to turn ideas into reality.
John came to the Squamish area in 1955 and grew up in Britannia.
Joined Squamish Mills as an accountant and bookkeeper.
Approximately two decades operating Squamish Air Services.
Volunteer service with the Squamish Lions Club beginning in 1995.
Seven decades
in Squamish.
Coming to the Squamish area
John came to the area in 1955 and grew up in Britannia. It was the beginning of a connection to the Squamish area that would span more than seven decades.
Britannia · SquamishHowe Sound Secondary
John graduated from Howe Sound Secondary School in 1964 before beginning his professional life in the local forestry and business community.
West Bank Logging
John's professional career in Squamish began in 1965 when he went to work as a bookkeeper for West Bank Logging. He also established Squamish Equipment and Contracting Ltd.
Logging · Business · BookkeepingA decades-long chapter begins
In March 1966, John joined Squamish Mills Ltd. as an accountant and bookkeeper. Over the years his responsibilities expanded into many aspects of the company's business and operations.
As Squamish Mills grew, John negotiated the purchase of several other local logging companies and their amalgamation into Squamish Mills.
Upper Squamish Valley sawmill
John negotiated the purchase of a sawmill in the Upper Squamish Valley. During the five years he operated the sawmill, he oversaw upgrades intended to make the operation more efficient.
He later negotiated the sale of the company's assets.
Operations · Negotiation · EfficiencySquamish Air Services
In 1971, Squamish Mills purchased an aircraft. That eventually led to the establishment of Squamish Air Services Ltd.
John operated the air service for approximately 20 years, providing charter service throughout the Sea to Sky corridor and along the British Columbia coast.
He hired and managed pilots, negotiated contracts and ultimately oversaw an operation involving three pilots and three aircraft.
3 Pilots · 3 Aircraft · Charter OperationsSquamish Loggers Sports
John became involved with Squamish Loggers Sports while the organization was still in its early years and took over its organization when the event was approximately seven years old.
For approximately a decade, he was involved in virtually every part of putting on and promoting the show. His work included bookkeeping, advertising, site upgrades, concessions, recruiting competitors, developing the program and securing advertising and sponsorships.
When the PNE wanted to establish its own Loggers Sports show, John also helped get that event started by sharing experience gained through the Squamish event.
the years
Property, construction and negotiation
John's work expanded beyond forestry. He managed residential and commercial properties on Cleveland Avenue and negotiated leases with BC Rail and the Squamish Nation, including arrangements associated with operating a dryland sort on the Squamish foreshore.
He also negotiated leases and managed construction of several federal and provincial government buildings in Squamish.
In Pemberton, John built and managed bank and post office buildings and negotiated their leases.
Property · Construction · Leases · NegotiationSquamish Lions Club
John joined the Squamish Lions Club in 1995, beginning what his biography describes as 28 years of volunteer service with the organization.
He served as President of the Squamish Lions Club and later as Lions Zone Chair. While Zone Chair, he reached out to the Mount Currie community and supported the establishment of a local Lions Club.
John was also involved in the Lions Club's work to upgrade the Squamish Lions Easter Seal Camp.
CEO of Squamish Mills
In 2012, John became CEO of Squamish Mills and its real estate division.
In the years that followed, he was responsible for winding down the company and negotiating the sale of its assets and interests.
CEO · Squamish MillsThe closing chapter
John continued operating Squamish Mills until 2022. His biography states that this period concluded with negotiations with the Líl̓wat Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation regarding the purchase of the company's timber rights.
Running for Squamish Council
Now retired, John is running for Council in 2026. He says he has reached a point where he has both the time and the desire to give back to the community that has been his home for more than 70 years.
Candidate for Squamish Council
Experience across
a changing Squamish.
John's biography spans business operations, forestry, aviation, construction, property management, negotiation and community organizations. These are some of the areas in which he has worked during his life in the Sea to Sky.
Business & Financial Management
John's early career began in bookkeeping and accounting. At Squamish Mills his responsibilities expanded over time into operations, acquisitions, negotiations and eventually executive leadership.
Forestry & Operations
His work included logging operations, the acquisition and amalgamation of local logging businesses, operating an Upper Squamish Valley sawmill and overseeing operational upgrades.
Aviation
John operated Squamish Air Services for approximately two decades, managing pilots, aircraft, contracts and charter operations throughout the Sea to Sky corridor and B.C. coast.
Projects & Negotiation
His biography includes experience managing properties, negotiating leases, overseeing construction and working through agreements involving businesses, governments and other organizations.
Community has always been part of the story.
Squamish Loggers Sports
For approximately 10 years, John helped organize and promote Squamish Loggers Sports. His responsibilities ranged from bookkeeping and advertising to sponsorships, concessions, site improvements and recruiting competitors from around British Columbia.
28 Years of Lions Service
Beginning in 1995, John spent 28 years volunteering with the Squamish Lions Club. He served as Club President and later Lions Zone Chair and was involved in work connected with the Squamish Lions Easter Seal Camp.
Youth Soccer
John's community involvement has also included coaching youth soccer in Squamish.
Speaking Up Locally
When plans associated with the development of Chieftain Mall included moving the post office out of downtown Squamish, John organized a community petition opposing the move.
Squamish is where John built his career, raised his family and spent much of his life volunteering and contributing to the community.
John is the father of four adult children and the grandfather of five. His family's story, like his working life, is closely connected to the community he has called home for more than seven decades.
Why John
is running.
John says retirement has given him both the time and the desire to give something back to the community that has been his home for more than 70 years.
He believes the experience accumulated over his working life — including business management, finances, negotiation and problem-solving — can be put to work at the Council table.
John has watched Squamish change dramatically during his lifetime. His biography makes clear that his interest is not simply in where Squamish has been, but in how the community approaches the changes still ahead.
His stated approach is to bring business experience, financial and management knowledge, negotiating skills and practical problem-solving to municipal decision-making.
“I know where Squamish has come from, but I am equally interested in where we are going.”