The results of our online Squamish Chief polls often spark lively discussions in the newsroom about local priorities and public sentiment on key issues.
We are often surprised at the results, and other times not so much.
For example, for our poll "Are you satisfied with life in Squamish?" 33% said "Yes, but the cost of living is too high."
And 33% said, "Yes, I’m generally satisfied with life in Squamish."
Those results track. It is awesome here, but expensive.
Similarly, when asked, "What is the most pressing issue facing the community today?" 30% said housing affordability, while 28% said cost of living (groceries, utilities, transportation).
Again, no surprise there.
On the other hand, when we asked, "If you had to name one thing that is better because of Squamish's recent growth, what would it be?" close to 530 people responded, and the top answer was "Nothing," which took 45% of the vote.
Harsh.
On a positive note, however, the second most popular response, with 22% of the vote was, "Better places to eat and drink."
For the question "Do Squamish's short-term rental rules strike the right balance?" 32 % said "No—too restrictive on homeowners and local tourism," while another 32% said “Yes—protecting long-term housing is the top priority."
The responses show a clear divide in public opinion on this issue.
There appears to be greater consensus on the question, "If there were a ferry from Squamish to Vancouver, would you take it often?"
On that question, the largest percentage—34%—of respondents said "Yes" while 19% said, "Depends on cost." Only 17% said "No."
Our poll, "Of current council members, who do you think is most likely to run for mayor to replace Mayor Armand Hurford?" garnered close to 330 respondents.
Coun. Jenna Stoner took top billing with 34% of the vote. The second most chosen answer was "None of them," at 32%. Third was Eric Andersen with about 13% of the vote.
Were our newsroom to take that poll, Coun. John French would have been higher on the list as likely to run.
(We are now asking of current council members who folks hope will become mayor.)
Of course, these polls represent only a snapshot—a self-selecting group who choose to participate—and may not reflect broader public opinion across Squamish.
The more people who take a poll, the more accurate it becomes.
So, if you haven't already, weigh in on our latest question: "Do you support a second floatel for Woodfibre LNG to house its construction workers?"
Your voice helps shape local dialogue.
