When it comes to the Squamish economy, the holy grail these days is diversification and sustainability. Long-serving municipal Coun. Doug Race says, although we continue to have a significant commuter population, his personal goal is to develop a community “that grows in balance, not just a bedroom community.”
Greg Gardner, owner of the local General Motors dealership and a former Squamish mayor, has a solid understanding of the business terrain. He believes the biggest problem in the past was “putting all our eggs in one basket,” in reference to an over-reliance on the forestry sector. After Interfor, Western Forest Products and the Woodfibre pulp mill were shuttered and thousands of jobs and a substantial muni tax infusion evaporated.
From all appearances, the dream of a more dynamic, multi-sector commercial environment is coming to fruition.
Coun. Ted Prior estimates that anywhere between 800 and 1,000 Squamish residents now work from home in the digital economy. And, according to Prior, once the Woodfibre liquid natural gas processing and export facility is up and running the District could collect at least $5 million annually in municipal taxes from the operation.
According to Coun. Jason Blackman-Wulff, if we consider construction, tourism, film, education, transportation/shipping and the retail sector “we are firing on all cylinders”. Last year film productions injected $1.4 million into the Squamish economy, a 74 per cent increase over the previous year.
Blackman-Wulff believes an area that requires more attention is higher value-added research, design and manufacturing operations.
“I think we as a local government need to work toward unlocking the potential of industrial lands on the former BC Rail property and the Cheekye fan/airport lands,” he says.
Over in the Business Park there is no shortage of activity, including Gillespie’s Fine Spirits distillers and craft beer producers A Frame and Backcountry Brewing. As well, Carbon Engineering’s carbon dioxide reclamation plant is thriving on the former Nexen Lands where it will be joined by a variety of start-ups that are slated to become key components of the long awaited Newport Beach development.
Across the way, the Sea to Sky Gondola is garnering international attention and attracting a growing stream of visitors. And a quick glance at the log sorts along the Mamquam Blind Channel will indicate the forestry sector is far from extinct. It is estimated that at least 200 Squamish residents are still employed in that industry.
But downtown Squamish business owner and municipal Coun. Susan Chapelle has some serious concerns about the local mercantile landscape.
In her opinion, “reliance on the Oceanfront development is a difficult and long-term strategy.”
She also says, “As business taxes continue to rise, and there is no room for growth for professional business, we are continuing to support low-income economic development.”
She warns that “densification without employment lands will continue to stunt local opportunities for growth.”
