Have we finally arrived at that sweet spot where talent, ambition and opportunity converge? Or is the whole thing an illusion, like a trompe l’oeil, used by artists to deceive viewers by creating the perception of three-dimensional reality?
These are heady times with plenty of discretionary income on display. Granite countertops, hardwood and slate flooring installations, and renos of every description are keeping local suppliers and contractors hopping. Housing prices are at record high levels. Developers can’t build fast enough to meet demand. Ambitious residential and business real estate projects are busting out all over.
We continue to host what has become the country’s premier summer outdoor music bash. Fests celebrating activities from yoga to the arts and sporting events of every description have been barking at the Squamish Valley Music Festival’s heels.
Speaking of barking, in a town whose motto should be “In Dog We Trust,” it’s not just the proliferation of pooches but the explosion of associated services that points to a robust burst of consumer confidence. Dog walking and “adventure hiking,” dog-training, grooming and boarding businesses are flourishing.
And in a community that boasts one of this province’s youngest demographics, economic prosperity continues to be mirrored in our ongoing baby boom. More residents are flaunting their hard-earned cash and letting loose. Upscale new vehicles grace driveways and streets. A growing legion of cycling enthusiasts astride pricy high-tech bikes are riding on local roads and on our continuously expanding trails network.
Remember when a cup of coffee cost under a dollar? Now trendy cafés are popping up from one end of town to the other serving upmarket java concoctions at quadruple that price. Dining out has become more popular than ever; on any given Friday or Saturday night, lineups at some eateries are 10 people deep.
Two decades ago, $25 plaid lumberjack shirts, a.k.a. Squamish dinner jackets, were essential apparel. These days, as more and more folks toss big bucks at Arc’teryx and other expensive outerwear brands, getting Gore-Texed up to your armpits is the de rigueur lifestyle statement.
But not everyone is living the dream. Two weeks ago, district officials posted a list of 45 residential properties that were about to be sold under the Local Government Act unless the owners ponied up their delinquent municipal taxes. Many wage earners are barely surviving from paycheque to paycheque. Numerous cash-strapped residents have maxed out their credit cards; some are packing up and heading for the exits.
After everything is said and done, is this surge of affluence real or just a mirage?
