At the recent reception kicking off Squamish’s involvement in the Vancouver Biennale, Krisztina Egyed read off a list of companies and individuals sponsoring the project, which will bring world-renowned and up-and-coming creative types to our fair community.
The list included the likes of the District of Squamish — whose support didn’t come without some handwringing on the part of councillors and townsfolk alike. While many saw the project’s value, some have wondered whether the money could have been better spent, while others thought it should go toward more local endeavours.
Whatever one’s take on those questions, the list included entities that could be described as representing “new” Squamish — Sea to Sky Gondola, Quest University, etc. — and more established businesses, including JR Trucking, West Barr Contracting and Squamish Days Loggers Sports.
The week of April 6 to 10 is National Volunteer Week in Canada, “a time to recognize, celebrate and thank Canada’s 13.3 million volunteers,” according to the website volunteer.ca. This week, The Chief has highlighted volunteers who help make the Squamish Public Library such a great community asset. We could also have showcased those with dozens of organizations (from minor hockey to the Hospice Society to Crime Stoppers) do such terrific work, or those who organize events (from Canada Day to the Test of Metal to the Brackendale Fall Fair). All deserve our heartfelt thanks.
The people and companies who have, for example, supported Vancouver Biennale, or who have donated to the Sea to Sky Community Services Society’s Centerpoint project, represent another class of volunteers. In these days of fiscal restraint, these types of community-building projects wouldn’t be possible without corporate support.
When Egyed, in her address to the Biennale crowd, singled out those in Squamish’s logging industry, it illustrated a key point: Whether you call yourself a part of “old” or “new” Squamish, or neither of the above, we’re all part of the same community. It takes vision and community spirit to look at an initiative that has never happened here before, or that is only a set of blueprints, and decide to get behind it. To those whose sense of volunteerism help keep our community moving forward, thank you.
