As with many people, my first experience with Squamish was when I briefly stopped here for gas while on my way from Vancouver to Whistler. Back then, there was no other reason to stop here. Even when I lived in Whistler, people poked fun at Squamish and made it out to be a backward little burg, with lots of jokes about in-breeding and getting uncomfortably close to farm animals. But, oh how things have changed in a little more than a decade.
Within that short time, we’ve watched the town evolve into… well, in my opinion, just about the best place to live in the whole blessed country. Even though we’ve been rebranded with that God-awful “Hardwired for Adventure” tagline and the evil Eye Of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings as our logo, we’re still, in my mind at least, the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada (and we side with the Hobbits and Elves). I regularly brag to all my friends back east about all the amazing outdoor adventures we offer (which I’m too lazy or unfit to participate in… but we still got ’em!), not to mention wintering eagles, stunning mountain and ocean views, and of course, that awesome Sea to Sky Gondola, which bent the gaze of the world on this “little burg.”
And with things like the proposed Great Wolf Lodge and Garibaldi at Squamish, we’ve finally arrived as a hot spot for tourism-related developments.
But, that success – more businesses, more people, more money – also unfortunately translates to our current housing crunch, and more crime, as well. Just look at the paper’s police report every week and you’ll see it: vehicle thefts, drugs, people with axes, break-ins at restaurants, assaults and a lot more. I’ve watched the level of crimes seemingly get worse every year.
Maybe it’s just a function of the numbers; however, I’d still like to see Squamish buck the odds and stay the best place to live despite it all. And I think Squamish’s unusually large sense of community is what is going to combat the lawlessness – our friendliness and love for our town. It’s harder to victimize someone you know, so say hi to strangers, be welcoming and open. Well, also lock your doors, I guess. But let’s make the effort to make Squamish more like the Shire, before we end up all living in Mordor.
