In an effort to acknowledge Squamish's role in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, VANOC has created a $750,000 trust fund in support of local sport and recreation facilities in the district.
The announcement took place during the "Squamish Rocks 2010" celebration at the Adventure Sunday (June 14), which brought together VANOC and Squamish representatives, as well as Olympic athletes and the mascots.
The District of Squamish and VANOC have partnered to ensure the 2010 Winter Games runs smoothly through co-operation and support on services and operational requirements, according to a joint news release.
The trust fund is an acknowledgement of that work, and the district will determine how the money is spent.
"This is a very significant acknowledgement about the role Squamish has to play in 2010," said Mayor Greg Gardner. "It's also an acknowledgement of our past support. I believe we have been the most supportive of any non-venue community with respect to these Games."
Gardner said Squamish has been onboard with the Games since the beginning. The community formed an Olympic task force two years before the bid announcement and sent a delegation to Prague, a bid city for the Olympics.
"Squamish continues to support the Games through initiatives such as the Spirit Committee and volunteer organizations like CALOC [Callaghan Valley Local Organizing Committee], which organized support for 20 pre-Olympic test events," he said.
The $750,000 trust fund is a legacy of the Games, said Gardner, and will be disbursed throughout the district.
"VANOC has given the community an opportunity to consider how these funds would be best spent in the community," Gardner said. "The ideas are coming forward already and I am sure it will be difficult for council to decide how it will be spent. It's a good problem for our community to have."
In recent months, as plans for 2010 emerged, Squamish felt the sting of neglect with spectator buses passing through the community during the Games. After the unveiling of the transportation plan in March, Gardner expressed disappointment.
In May, talks broke down between the Sea to Sky School District and VANOC over the renting school facilities during the Games.
Despite the recent lack of "Olympic love," Gardner said, the trust fund did not come as a surprise. He said the fund has actually been in the works for a number of years.
"It has been the subject of discussion for many years and goes back to the days of Mayor Sutherland. He had an ongoing discussion with VANOC about achieving a legacy for our community and now that has come to fruition," Gardner said.
He said he can't speculate on whether the $750,000 was the result of grumblings among Squamish politicians and residents.
"Certainly VANOC is aware these will be a better Olympic Games with Squamish support. We are all aware the bid book referred to Squamish as the northern terminus of a passenger ferry," Gardner said. "That did not happen, but trust fund is an acknowledgement of our role in these Games."
According to a press release issued by VANOC Monday (June 15), Squamish is ideally located between Vancouver and Whistler to provide important services and to benefit from the 2010 Winter Games. VANOC also acknowledged Squamish's role in the successful staging of numerous sport events at Games venues over the past winter season.
Although the district's role is less defined than venue cities such as Whistler, the community will house up to 600 out-of-town volunteers during the Olympics.
More than 80 Squamish businesses have contracts with VANOC, which are worth $15.6 million, stated the press release. The district is also working with VANOC to find areas suitable for parking space and support for shore operations should cruise ships be used for accommodation.
"Squamish is a critical community to the staging of the Games," said Dan Doyle, VANOC executive vice president of construction in a press release. "This partnership solidified our commitment to work closely with Squamish to ensure the games are of benefit to the community and that residents and business can make a real contribution to the Games success."
Doyle said the sport legacy trust recognizes the past; current and future support, time and resources that Squamish is providing in the Sea to Sky region.
"The Sport Legacy Trust Fund is also an investment in the future health of this community and an opportunity to build on its growing reputation as the 'Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.'"
