Growing up cross-country skiing, orienteering and generally playing in dirt in Finland it didn’t take me long to discover the Sea to Sky Country with its incredible nature, adrenaline-filled playground and the kindred adventure seekers after my arrival in Canada at 19. After over a decade in Whistler my partner Donald (aka Bushman) and I, knew we had found our true home in Squamish five years ago.
We came here, like many others, to embrace the recreational lifestyle, buy a more affordable home and enjoy our slice of the natural heaven. What we didn’t expect were the passionate, cool, educated, energetic, caring and entrepreneurial people, who welcomed and included us in their midst. In 2011 my reignited passion for “being the change you wish to see” (Gandhi) compelled me to run for Mayor to bring forth the voice of many in Squamish I felt were underrepresented at our local government level.
Three years later and countless hours gladly invested in many local organizations like Inside Edge and Squamish Chamber my passion for seeing Squamish emerge as the resilient, entrepreneurial and energetic hub for play, work, recreation, culture and arts is stronger than ever.
As we sit in the cusp of making big decisions about our future I believe that our community deserves a much larger and participatory role in what happens here. Albeit my personal interests lie in creating a diversity of affordable housing stock, resilient community-based economic development with a wide range of industries, social, cultural and economic inclusiveness and local food production I believe we have to get started with some basic building blocks.
1. A strong community vision incorporating our collective values and encompassing of a long-term economic, environment, social and cultural context. This should be our guide and drive all our decision-making.
2. A culture of collaboration and innovation, which fosters meaningful public dialogue on an ongoing basis and empowers the public to be part of the decision making process.
3. Good governance – Mayor and council should remain at high level and develop a firm set of strategic objectives, which are measurable and have specific timelines attached. All initiatives are measured against these priorities and if they do not fit, they do not get initiated.
4. Budgets based on community’s top priorities, driven by meeting needs first and then wants, which should be ordered on the basis of their value proposition (social, economic and environmental impacts).
5. Empowerment of community organizations and projects, which must meet the established priorities filter and demonstrate value – social, economic and environmental.
I believe I can deliver a fresh perspective and a pragmatic approach to Council. I have a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Political Science with a sprinkling of Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University. I currently deliver innovative strategic business consulting services with a focus on sustainable business practices, strategic planning and communication with special emphasis on sustainable and progressive building practices.
For more on Auli:
Follow her on Twitter - @aulidotca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuliParviainenForSquamish
Website: www.auli.ca
