Is this shaping up to be the winter of our discontent?
When it comes to growth, it looks like Squamish is powered by the Energizer Bunny. But in a recent online poll conducted by The Chief nearly 70 per cent of respondents said the town is growing too fast. And according to local pundit Eric Andersen, “There are lots of negative consequences to becoming merely a long distance, extended sprawl of Vancouver.”
He wonders why “there is no mention of the lack of jobs and business tax base growth.”
Coun. Susan Chapelle says her biggest worry is traffic planning: “It will quickly become a nightmare having one road in and out of all our small areas with increased density.” Chapelle adds that she is “looking forward to having a properly vetted OCP discussion…We need a commercial strategy and a better handle on our employment situation.”
Squamish prides itself on being inclusive and downtown crosswalks have been painted in rainbow hues to underscore that sentiment. A recent District of Squamish Annual Report envisioned a community that is “multicultural, compassionate, vibrant and diverse.”
Despite that declaration, a number of elementary and secondary students have experienced harassment and racial slurs on a regular basis and have felt unwelcome in our schools.
One commenter on The Chief’s website said “I’m beyond shocked that this is happening in Squamish! From the fact that Squamish is historically First Nations territory and now has so many different ethnic groups as part of the population, plus the international students.” Another commenter said “We shouldn’t be shocked this happens in Squamish. Why shouldn’t it?
“Are ignorant and shallow people excluded from living here? Ignorance is everywhere and we should expect it and be prepared to resist it by revealing the truth of how to treat people…”
The Annual Report also made the visionary declaration that “We are a spectacular seaside mountain community where people come to live, learn, work and play in harmony.”
For the most part that ambition is being realized, until the topic of the proposed Woodfibre liquid natural gas facility comes up for discussion. Forget about harmony. That exchange has degenerated into an uncivil war of spiteful online commentary and bullying by both sides, punctuated by criminal behaviour in the form of torching the WLNG proponent’s downtown Squamish office.
So what does it all mean?
With the right mixture of far-sighted political leadership, and a core of residents who are willing to find solutions to the challenges facing us, Squamish could become one of the most envied communities in B.C.
In the absence of that combination, we risk the possibility of never reaching our fullest potential.
