The "mystery businessman" reported last week as hosting a party in support of Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) is Tim Horton's owner Wes Rafuse, according to Coun. Jeff McKenzie, who said he encouraged the businessman to hold the event. "I just told him, 'Hey, the business community needs to get behind this somehow,'" said McKenzie.Asked why there was mystery surrounding Rafuse's identity last week, McKenzie laughed and said: "Hey it worked, didn't it?"GAS CEO Mike Esler last week told The Chief that increased local support had been arriving from the business community, including various Chamber of Commerce members. This was exemplified, he said, by a businessman's offer to host a gathering where GAS could present their project. Esler said the man wished to remain anonymous, and GAS consultant Gord Addison said he'd phoned the man, and confirmed he wished his identity to remain secret. But Rafuse said no one contacted him regarding the issue. Rafuse said he offered to host the gathering to allow GAS proponents to present the plan once he'd heard the project was facing roadblocks. Rafuse said he was stumped by the term "mystery businessman.""I don't understand the whole anonymity thing," he said, adding he was unsure what McKenzie meant when he said "it worked." "I'm not manipulating anybody," he said. "Nobody had anything to hide. I think we'd do it for any business that was coming into the community."He also said he didn't send a letter to editor of The Chief signed "Mystery Businessman." "Many of us felt that he [Elser] needed to know that an overwhelming silent majority of Squamish residents are ecsatic at the possbility of having a ski hill in our town," stated the letter, which was not published as the writer's identity could not be confirmed.A loud faction of the community has come together to oppose the project, and B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office has suspended the project pending the resolution of questions of water accessibility."I think everybody thought things were rolling along quite nicely," said Rafuse. "I think everybody was kind of shocked when it seemed to have become an issue."Rafuse said in the final analysis, it doesn't matter who hosted the gathering; what's important is it was a success."The beauty about it was he [Esler] was able to give us a presentation, and I think there were people in our crowd who had misconceptions. And everybody came away quite relieved and quite happy."Project opponent Catherine Jackson of Save Garibaldi said she wasn't surprised the proponent is holding gatherings, but is "quite surprised" about the apparent secrecy. "We need to have fair and open public discourse on this," she said, adding councillors should "hold on to" their opinions until they've heard from everyone at public hearing, when and if it becomes a matter for the district.Jackson said she intends to run for council herself in this November's municipal elections.
