“Who Dares, Wins” is a motto popularized by the British Special Air Service.
It should be posted in a prominent spot at the entrance to downtown Squamish because that neighbourhood is winning a strong following from locals and visitors alike.
The area is being transformed from an eyesore plagued by empty store fronts and a hang-dog look to a bustling community hub with a lively “coffee culture” vibe.
It boasts engaging street banners and frisky signage behind which a bevy of trendy businesses ply their trade. Even the tattered Chieftain Hotel sign got a recent makeover.
Credit has to be given to the District of Squamish for its Downtown Transformation Initiative, a 20-year strategic revitalization action plan. Equal kudos should be conveyed to the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association, which is well on the way to converting the area into a unique destination attraction. Two years ago the association got an energy infusion when media and marketing savvy Bianca Peters was appointed as its executive director.
The Downtown Squamish BIA has been instrumental in launching the successful downtown façade improvement program, the Heritage Walking Tour and an annual Passport to Shop & Win/ Heart of the Holidays campaign. As well, a multitude of other activities have been staged, including Community Canada Day and the Squamish Santa Claus Parade. Recently, the association tapped into the Tragically Hip Farewell Tour livestream celebration and orchestrated the Pumpkin Patch in the Park community gathering.
The latter event was hosted in conjunction with the Squamish Rotary Club and a number of generous sponsors, including Save-on-Foods, who donated 500 pumpkins that were sold to raise money for the Squamish Community Christmas Care program.
As much as there is plenty of upside, the downtown core has been susceptible to its share of growing pains. Despite some progress, a lack of parking availability continues to generate unease. And, although more storefronts are becoming long-term fixtures, the recurring narrative is still one of revolving enterprises, including the recent departure of Gelato Carina.
Some prospective businesses are finding it difficult to rent adequate commercial space on Cleveland and Second Avenue, while established operations complain about skyrocketing lease costs. There is also a concern that too many planned downtown developments have a bare minimum of commercial space and very limited or no employment density.
Another long-standing beef is absentee landlords whose primary stake in the area is rental income at the expense of other considerations. And the issue of empty weed strewn lots that could easily double as sets for a Spaghetti Western continues to come up in conversations.
But here is the clincher: Will this be the winter when the powers-that-be stop passing the buck and somebody finally takes full responsibility for clearing the snow off the sidewalks from one end of downtown to the other?
