It’s ours… the awesome, majestic fjord called Howe Sound, surrounded by distinctive and eclectic small communities, interspersed with islands large and small and set against the backdrop of stunning, snowcapped mountains… truly a masterpiece now and potentially a world-class tourism and adventure recreation destination in itself and important economic generator, right in our front yards. That’s my vision for Howe Sound.
That doesn’t appear to be the vision of the B.C. government, who are promoting a return of major, heavy, resource-based industry… LNG, gravel pit, waste burning and more logging. Not wise given a long recovery from past environmental damage. Haven’t we learned anything from the past? We have a stunning natural resource in Howe Sound, so why not showcase it to the world, have more people come here to experience it, and through development and programming, create additional economic and social values for the region?
The potential of Howe Sound under the overarching theme of tourism/adventure recreation, properly planned, and cleverly delivered, is a huge opportunity for new product development, new businesses to create them, and new communities and residents drawn for the lifestyle and setting. It’s a sustainable economic powerhouse, already building in several areas, notably around Squamish, but throughout the sound.
For me, the future of Howe Sound sits nicely under the umbrella of selective tourism/adventure recreational development that can draw visitors from around the world and enhance our own experiences while preserving what we have for future generations… a win, win, win. It doesn’t exclude new or expanding industries, and does include new product development and additional activity programming.
A Howe Sound future aligned with tourism/recreation can deliver solid long-term economic returns (jobs, new business, visitors, and residents) as good as or better than a return to heavy industry and with a minimal ecological footprint. It’s clever, clean, and sustainable and in the best long-term interests of B.C. A 30-year shared vision, a guiding master plan, and program initiatives are the starting points to proving the point.
We now have a great example of a local attraction’s economic impact: the newly opened Sea to Sky Gondola, nestled between Shannon Falls and the Chief. This attraction, five years in the making, locally and privately funded, delivered more than 200 construction jobs and now, in operation, has more than 100 employees, almost all local…. a major new player in the area and by all accounts a huge hit with tourists and locals less than a month after opening.
Mike Hurst
Lions Bay
