Helmut Manzl - Special to The Chief
It is truly a privilege to join an award winning team at The Chief, whose insightful work has been applauded both provincially and nationally. To be effective, this column should hold up a mirror to the community. It should continue to reveal our shortcomings and imperfections, as well as our successes and achievements. In the process some feathers may be ruffled, but the intention here will be to avoid heavy handedness.
Good expository writing comes with attitude and edge. It should not hesitate to expose blemishes, but it should not be motivated by anger or spite. Instead of an opportunity for constructive dialogue and growth, many of our public forums in this community have degenerated into a feisty catalogue of perceived slights and petty feuds.
We have spent considerable energy looking into the rearview mirror, instead of concentrating on the road ahead; we have become too preoccupied with "could have beens" or "should have beens" at the expense of embracing the ample natural bounty we possess.
Having said that, it is important to realize that the heart of this community consists of a group of people who welcome change. Squamish has always been a successful town with a rich and varied heritage, but in the next five years we will undergo more profound changes than any other community in Canada. The relationships we build with a legion of demanding and sophisticated visitors, with considerable discretionary income, will in no small measure define our future.
Ultimately this town is destined for a remarkable transformation. It will continue to be a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, but what was once a drive-through on the Sea to Sky Highway will become an imposing West Coast destination venue.
Our new Adventure Centre, a visually appealing and architecturally unique landmark, will become one of the cornerstones of the community. The AC, like the town itself, will quickly be the physical embodiment of a new spirit of risk taking and inventiveness.
There will be a price to pay for this rapid transformation, a price that will manifest itself on the police blotter and our increasingly challenged social welfare services. The barometer for our progress will not be hefty bank accounts, or real-estate opportunities seized. Success will depend on how we avoid falling into the throes of social distress, so prevalent in many areas of the Lower Mainland. Success will also depend on how we provide an increasingly disengaged youthful population with a feeling of connectedness to the community.
All of these developments will provide ample fodder for our dialogue. Ideally, this column will continue to be one of many voices in the community that will help us think collectively about problems, look for creative solutions, and challenge basic assumptions.
