In 25 years, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed in Squamish: our passion.
The Squamish Chief is celebrating a quarter century of telling the community’s stories, providing an opportunity to look back and ahead and realize that, in essence, some things remain the same 25 years after the first edition rolled off the presses. That’s the community’s interest and passion for a beautiful oceanside place that many love to call home.
Currently, it’s a boom town punctuated by the sound of hammers as new developments spring up around all parts of Squamish, from Valleycliffe to Brackendale. And local readers are concerned about issues arising from the rapid growth, as evidenced in our lively letters pages, below our Facebook posts and on our website at squamishchief.com.
The numbers prove how engaged you are with the stories of Squamish, regardless of whether you live in this town of 20,000. Every month, about 55,000 people read the latest Squamish stories on our website and up to 150,000 see our Facebook posts. And as soon as the printed newspaper comes out, copies begin flying off store shelves.
Our journalists are passionate to write about what’s happening, whether it’s a new 1,000-unit development being planned, a Lamborghini burning in a blaze of flames, a chunk falling off the Stawamus Chief or the Squamish Terminals dock burning. We’re at council when new bylaws and plans are passed to allow the developments and tax rates, and we research the story when the liquefied natural gas plant clears new hurdles or a new resort is planned. We’re there shooting images when the Pirates splash through the pool for a meet or when longboarders in space-age outfits cruise down Copper Road.
Journalism is also about introducing the fascinating people who are our neighbours. Profiles about local people have proved popular, whether they’re entrepreneurs, artists or thrill-seekers. Our columns and editorials have introduced topics that need to be discussed, such as whether trees should be painted blue or school administrators should receive huge salary hikes.
You care, so we care and we’re happy to lead the discussion about the tough issues as well as tell the simpler stories about bike races and summer festivals.
We can report on the latest developments and keep the discussion going only because the readers are engaged and interested in Squamish. It’s an honour to write your stories. Here’s to the next 25 years.
– Editor Christine Endicott
