Louise Walker cradles a cup of steaming coffee as she looks up through the Squamish Adventure Centre’s floor-to-ceiling windows at the forming clouds. As the newly minted executive director of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, the Adventure Centre is home to Walker’s office now. The Squamish Chief sat down with Walker over coffee for a chat about her new role, growing Squamish business and life in the district.
Q: You started as executive director a couple of weeks ago. How is it going so far?
A: It is good. I am learning lots and slowly finding my way around. I am in my listening and research phase where I am listening, learning and understanding the sentiment in Squamish.
Q: You were formerly with Tourism Whistler, but do you live in Squamish?
A: Yes, for five years. We moved to Canada [from Edinburgh, U.K.] eight years ago, came for the ski season and never left. I had planned to have a year of being a ski bum, but a few weeks into the season I went back to working. My background is research and consulting and the job came up in Whistler – it was too big of an opportunity to miss so I started with Tourism Whistler. Later, I moved into vice-president of marketing. We lived up there for a few years, but then when I was pregnant and it was time to settle down, we chose Squamish.
Q: What are the differences you’ve seen between Whistler and Squamish?
A: There are a lot of similarities: Two communities that love the outdoors and have great people. Both pushed through the recession and now have seen strong economic growth, but in different ways. Squamish has seen a huge increase in new residents. People move here and there’s a big diversity in business. There’s technology business, tourism and the established big industries that are the foundations for the town, so there’s real diversity, innovation and entrepreneurship here.
Q: What do you see as some of our challenges business-wise in Squamish in the next year or two?
A: While I am still in my listening phase there are definitely some hot topics. Job creation is a big one for us. The Chamber’s role is to grow economy and support business and support job creation. Somewhat connected to that is transit. I am very pleased to see the District of Squamish is working with the Province on questions around how to improve, enhance and expand.
Housing affordability is an issue all across B.C. and it seems to be enhanced here.
I do have a slightly shameless plug: On November 22nd, we are hosting a panel discussion on housing affordability at 11:30 a.m. at the Squamish Valley Golf Course. On the Affordable Employee Housing Forum panel, we are going to have representatives from the District of Squamish, Squamish Helping Hands, a local employer and a developer. We are trying to get a really interesting discussion from different perspectives. Go to squamishchamber.com to register.
Q: Is housing affordability an issue for local businesses because they want to attract the best and brightest and there aren’t places for those employees to live?
A: I think there are multiple layers to it. There are people who can’t afford to stay here and then there are people who are commuting down to Vancouver and we want to have jobs for them to stay in Squamish because then it enhances the economy and it helps with residential taxes.
The best and most resilient economy is when there is a balance of industries. There are big export ones as well as other businesses that serve the local community. That is what we are looking for – that balance.
There are a lot of factors that contribute to the housing affordability issue. We have the vacation rental by owner that takes units away from rentals.
In my Whistler days we spent quite a bit of time investigating.
It is a difficult one because, on the one hand, if that is what tourists want and what customers demand there is only so much resistance you can put up, but on the other side it takes away from housing.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to let the community know about your plans and goals going forward?
A: At the moment I am working with the board and looking at the strategic plan, talking to the different sectors in the community and then we will create a 2017 action plan.
In Whistler, I worked really closely with resort partners. I’m a firm believer in collaboration and want to work closely with the district, the Squamish Nation and other community groups.
Nominations are open now until Nov. 18 for the 2017 Chamber board of directors. Voting begins Nov. 21 and close Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. For more information go squamishchamber.com.
