Why do newspapers always report bad news?
It's a statement that makes me scratch my head. While there are always stories about differing opinions and ideas and sometimes tragedy, many of stories are interesting or heartwarming- the 150 volunteers who rebuilt the Easters Seal Camp's facilities this week were truly inspiring.
What I think it comes down to is ease. It's easier to point out what's broken than what's working. And for some reason the caveman in us is drawn to the dark side - don't believe me? Check out our most read story list.
The same principle goes for municipal politics. Last Monday, I attended the District of Squamish's downtown transformation meeting. The room at the Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Co. was full of the usual suspects, a dedicated crew of residents that attend meeting after meeting in the quest to unearth our hidden gem.
Yes, this meeting was yet another District of Squamish initiative to defib Squamish's heart. And yes, it's easy to dismiss this attempt to pump life into the community as another municipal plan to collect dust.
But there was something fresh about this meeting. It was difficult to put a finger on it. It lay somewhere between the enthusiasm and out-of-the-box thinking of the young municipal staff and a feeling that the moss is about to be whipped off this town as it finally moves forward.
It's easy to be a pessimist. Cleveland is still lined with brownfields; the Squamish Oceanfront still resembles a moonscape. Yet if we take some time to look deeper, beyond the surface, change is forming.
The Mamquam Blind Channel is finally seeing some action. The four-storey residential Mireau development has its sales office up and going, and construction is scheduled for next spring. Just a few blocks away, the municipality has acquired four acres of waterfront land. The district and community stakeholders have submitted an application to snag 500,000 federal dollars to help transform the lot into a community space.
Next year, the Sea to Sky Gondola will lift its first load of visitors up its tramline between the Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls. And in town, residents will welcome a piece of world-class art into the Squamish, as the community takes part in the Vancouver Biennale's outdoor art exhibition.
So we can sit around complain about what's not happening or we can get involved with what's moving forward. The district is seeking residents' input on the downtown, holding a series of workshops, including creative webinars from branding product development experts Destination Development International. Officials are using social media and have a website created specifically for the initiative at www.squamish.ca.
Some of us will choose to sit on the sidelines accompanied by our pessimism, others will gear up. Personally, I'm gunning to be in the game.
