Editor's note: This letter was sent to Mayor Greg Gardner and Kevin Ramsay, CAO for the District of Squamish. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
Re. GranFondo.
As you know, the Brackendale Farmer's Institute has been holding the fall fair for 17 years on the second Saturday in September. Last year, we were faced with significant problems due to road closures related to the GranFondo. We had hoped that the organizers would either change their event date or mitigate the road closures in 2011.
Last week, we read that the highway would be closed to Garibaldi Highlands and Valleycliffe for three hours the morning of the fall fair.
This is unacceptable.
It is shocking that a decision of this nature has been imposed on our community that will negatively affect a much-loved community event such as the fall fair, as well as impacting access to the soccer fields and to the hospital (to name just a few).
We realize that much of the decision-making is out of the District's hands; however, we expect that you will advocate on our behalf so that the closure is minimized to 60 to 90 minutes maximum. Although the GranFondo will impact our community no matter what weekend it is held, we ask that they consider changing the date to one that does not coincide with the Brackendale Fall fair.
Please let us know what is being done to rectify this situation - right away, without delay!
Thor Froslev
Brackendale Farmer's Institute
Brackendale
