Editor’s note: This is a copy of a letter to Squamish’s mayor and council. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
After spending another weekend at a trade show, marketing the brand I launched across Canada years ago, I was reminded of the importance of protecting the businesses that partner with you in your product or service.
Are my business practices reflecting my partners’ investment in my product line?
With that in mind, I turn to one of the greatest, most dramatic business investments in our community: The Sea to Sky Gondola. Great job on making this happen!
• Real Squamish Jobs employing our citizens.
• Guaranteed tax base for the municipality.
• Creating wellness through helping people escape to the outdoors or maybe experience high mountain terrain for their first time.
• Showcasing Squamish as a destination for tourists.
• Creating ancillary business that pours out from bringing more traffic into our area.
Mayor and council, what do you think the perception is out there in the business world on how you treat your newest business partners’ investment in our community?
I have wondered often, what Sea to Sky Gondola must think about the lack of verbal support, from our council, to ensure their enormous investment is protected.
The fact that potentially in the near future, smoke stacks, massive tankers, smog from emissions might be the “thanks” they get for their multi-million dollar investment, could be a turning point for “clean” business to decide that Squamish is too much of a risk.
It’s time for the business world to see that when Squamish is blessed with a sustainable, clean, taxpaying, citizen-employing venture into Squamish, that the council is the most vocal in protecting their investment.
We love Squamish and most recently contributed to the economics of this area by building a rental home. The couple who moved in came from Banff as they would like to retire here and enjoy the great outdoors. They are looking to build a home here. However, they are very clear that if Squamish wants to return to the good ol’ days of heavy industry, with the smells and emissions, they are back to Banff.
Delena Angrignon
Squamish
