It was not all that many years ago when I was president of the Chamber of Commerce, that our Chamber board identified the need to attract events and festivals to town. Events were identified, and have proven to be successful marketing tools for showcasing our community, attracting media coverage and marketing, and generating important overnight visitors that spend significantly more in a community than day visitors. Events also contribute greatly to the vibrancy of communities, offering a wide variety of things to do for residents and infusing energy into various venues around town.
Today, one only needs to look at each weekend’s event calendar to get a snapshot of this amazing community and all our varied interests. The summer-long festival season in Squamish is so busy that it has become literally impossible to attend them all.
The year 2014 offers an opportunity to intersperse a variety of historical celebrations into the summer event lineup. There is so much to celebrate this year, from Britannia Beach’s 110th anniversary, to Squamish Chamber of Commerce’s 80th anniversary, to the 50th anniversary of the amalgamation between Squamish, Brackendale and Mamquam to form the District of Squamish. This weekend, we can take the opportunity to learn more about our history and celebrate the accomplishments of those who have paved the way and helped shape our community into what it is today when the Squamish Culture and Heritage Festival comes to town.
The Squamish Historical Society (SHS) is hosting the Squamish Cultural and Heritage Festival Friday and Saturday (May 2 and 3) at Quest University, and it’s one of the anchor events in our community’s Squamish 2014 celebrations. The SHS has gathered an impressive lineup of guest speakers, films and workshops showcasing the culture and heritage of the Squamish Valley. A variety of interesting and fun attractions, entertainment, community tables and displays will also be on hand.
The Squamish Culture and Heritage Festival also engages local schools and our youth, and showcases student research projects, presenting an opportunity to view our history through the eyes of our youth. The weekend’s events are all free and are made possible by grants from the Department of Canadian Heritage: Building Communities through Art and Heritage, from Squamish Savings, and through the support of local business and non-profit sponsors.
Every summer weekend offers up many events for us to attend and this weekend is no different. In addition to the Squamish Cultural and Heritage Festival, this weekend’s event lineup is rounded out with the seventh annual Hike for Hospice and the Gryphon Enduro Bike Race. The good weather has arrived; the festival and event season has begun. I encourage everyone to attend, race, participate, volunteer and experience the richness of culture and sport that makes our community great!
