Outdoor cinema events, food carts and night markets are just a few of the suggestions that came out of the District of Squamish's first downtown transformation meeting.
On May 13, municipal officials held the kickoff to the district's latest initiative to revitalize Squamish's heart. Staff came away with 61 programming requests, along with a slew of suggestions to beautify downtown, district planner Sabina Foofat told Committee of the Whole on Tuesday (May 28).
The programming is potentially a really achievable quick win for the next six months, she said.
District staff came to council with a plan to create a 'Downtown Champions' working group, a motion lawmakers supported. Coun. Patricia Heintzman said she wanted staff to target citizens who could help lead the charge.
Most of the people in that room were just waiting for a chance to be a champion of this, she said of the public meeting.
Officials need to think outside the box when creating action items, Heintzman said. Solutions don't have to come with a hefty price tag, she said, noting the process must engage creative solutions.
Whatever is acted upon, district officials must also view actions through the lens of potential tourist draws, Tourism Squamish representative Jared Sissons said. Before district staff go ahead with a series of quick wins, officials need to decide on the branding for the community, he noted.
Squamish has a powerful brand already, Heintzman said, noting the community's Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada slogan.
Officials need to remember the downtown transformation initiative is rooted in economic development, Coun. Doug Race said. While programming, such as festival and picnics sound nice, it doesn't address the initial goal, he said. A piecemeal initiative doesn't strike a chord, he added.
A 'quick win' is having a plan the community accepts and then evolving something out of that, he said.
The district has a long list of downtown revitalization ideas from previous plans and workshops, said Scott McQuade, president of the Squamish Downtown Business Improvement Association.
I don't think we need fresh ideas. I think we need some action, he said.
The motion will proceed to council for final approval.
The first downtown transformation meeting on May 13 came with entertainment. Listen to Dean Reorda sing his song about Squamish -
