On the sunrise of a new decade, it’s good to reflect upon how far Squamish has come.
There’s no question that our town has changed a great deal in the last year, let alone over the last 10.
No doubt, many would question whether all the changes are a good thing. And that’s fair.
Housing prices are up. An affordability crisis is ever-present and has been displacing much of our population. Businesses have gone through periods where they can’t find workers, as rent has become too great an expense. Some have been left without homes.
Development happened at a speed that many find disconcerting. The Squamish of old is very quickly getting swallowed up by the new.
Yet, at the same time, this resurgence does bring along with it much opportunity.
There was certainly a sense of decay that enveloped the community when its major employers like Woodfibre left. But that has been replaced with a certain vibrancy.
The town is growing by leaps and bounds and many new businesses and — and yes, developments — have added character to the place that weren’t there before.
We all knew Squamish was a van-living mecca for outdoor recreationalists, but we’ve shown the world we’ve got a lot more going for us.
We host world-famous loggers sports, an eagle count and festival like none other, a one-of-kind university, a promising carbon capture company and a (soon to reopen) cool gondola, among other things.
We’ve also made big strides in microbrewing, Mexican food, sushi, pizza and fine dining, just to name a few. And hoot! — Dairy Queen has returned.
To many, Squamish used to be little more than a rest stop on the way to Whistler. But now, it’s a fully-fledged destination in and of itself, earning recognition worldwide in publications such as The New York Times and the L.A. Times.
As a community, we’re also doing our best to address the issues that growth and change have created.
Thankfully, the Buckley Avenue affordable housing project has jumped through its last major hoop at council. Construction on social housing and services project Under One Roof is well underway. Ground has been broken on the new seniors complex.
The recognition of a climate crisis is a step in the right direction, and some developers are taking it upon themselves to create buildings that have reduced carbon footprints.
So there it is, Squamish. We have a lot to work on, but a lot going for us at the same time.
The future looks bright. Happy New Year, Squamish.
