EDITOR,
The Business Improvement Association (BIA) serving the downtown commercial centre in Squamish is at risk of ceasing to exist.
The BIA organizes popular events in the downtown area, it promotes shopping downtown, it promotes business development, it advocates on behalf of business and it participates in beautification projects.
Similar organizations are successfully doing the same thing all over our province. We are learning that communities with a healthy downtown are communities that thrive.
If you don't have a healthy downtown, how do you build a community?
The Downtown Squamish BIA brings a cohesive voice for the all the downtown business owners to improve the commercial viability and vitality of the downtown. We have seen this over the last five years.
In the short lifetime of the BIA, it has done some things that have made a huge difference for the commercial core. Downtown Squamish now has a website and a social media presence that is engaging the community and keeping downtown top of mind.
The association has also been a leader in beautifying the downtown by creating or supporting projects like community murals, the painting of light posts and the installation of artistic bike racks.
Events like the classic car show during Rumble to the Rock and theatre in the park are high-profile public events organized by the BIA or supported by the group.
The BIA sponsors workshops for members and promotes downtown development. The association has also played the role of advocate standing up for the interests of merchants and the community.
We are proud of the work the BIA has done and the difference it makes.
To help us to continue making positive change the BIA has a request of those who see the difference the BIA makes.
Please do something to share your support of the work being done by the BIA. You can let downtown merchants and landowners know of your support. Encouraging downtown land owners to support of the BIA will make a huge difference. Or, you could contribute some time between now and March 18 as the BIA endeavours to contact downtown landowners to explain what is happening with the BIA. You can speak to Christine Bennett, the BIA executive director, about how you can help make a difference.
I leave you with this thought: who will be the voice for downtown?
Eric Armour
President, Squamish BIA
