The Year 2014 marks the celebration of 100 years of Squamish history and the 50th anniversary of our incorporation as a municipality. As I write this, it is April 1; however, the fantastic start to 2014 has been no joke. I believe this year will be a year to remember and in fact has already proven so.
I had the privilege of taking a pre-opening ride up the new gondola, on track to open in May. It was incredible and the view from the top is breathtaking and unique in the world. This is truly an amazing experience and will be a game-changer as Squamish transitions into a visitor destination in its own right.
Having Vancouver Biennale include Squamish in their 2014-’15 program is another great opportunity for us. Drop by the corner of Cleveland and Buckley to experience the art work being constructed onsite. This is the first of three installations.
Who will ever forget the day the white-sided dolphins and killer whales came to town and put on an incredible display so close to shore that hundreds had the opportunity to experience it. Social media was very effective in getting the word out to many in time for them to arrive at the shoreline and view it for themselves.
In council last week, Solterra presented plans to develop their property in the business park and realize their vision for a “rec-tech” park combining indoor recreation with research, sales and marketing. At the same meeting, they revealed plans for a public market on their property across from the Brew Pub. This will go a long way to support our downtown transformation initiative, creating an additional vibrant “people” place.
Squamish Valley Music Festival is moving ahead with plans for a bigger, better event this year, and meetings are taking place with local agencies to ensure the festival is safe and well-organized. The organizers are hosting a public town hall meeting this Monday, (April 7) at 7 p.m. at Howe Sound Secondary School. If you have unanswered questions, please stop by.
Squamish’s Brand Development Committee will kick off its version of boot camp next week to develop the brand story, product development objectives and the brand’s graphic look and feel. The community is invited to view the results during a presentation April 11 at 9 a.m. at the Ledge Café on Cleveland. This project has been another example of community participation with more than 1,100 people having completed the survey.
Many more projects and events are underway this year, with the 50 and 100 years celebration woven throughout. It is going to be fun and exciting! I encourage everyone to fully participate in the Squamish experience.
