The Adventure Centre will be offered to media during the Olympic Games, and the District of Squamish will provide the Squamish Sustainability Corporation (SSC) with $7,500 to make up for the subsequent loss of revenue.
SSC chairman Coun. Rob Kirkham proposed the motion to rent unoccupied Adventure Centre office space to the district for media use during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. The SSC requested a payment of $7,500 from the district to compensate for potential lost revenue.
In a written submission to council, Kirkham stated the partnership would allow the district to showcase itself to the world and the SSC to generate revenue.
"The SSC is looking for revenue generation so they are looking at leasing out spaces and desks," Kirkham said. "As Squamish's structural icon, there is no place better to host the world than the Squamish Adventure Centre."
Kirkham suggested all parties involved could benefit from this short-term rental. The centre is equipped with many of the basic business necessities, including phone lines, conference rooms and Internet, which visiting media could put to good use.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman inquired whether this would be added to the 2010 budget or to the existing 2009 budget. Mayor Greg Gardner said staff will advise on the matter but has not looked into the issue just yet. Council unanimously voted in support of referring the motion to staff.
Deputy Fire Chief formally introduced
The newest member of Squamish Fire Rescue, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Adams was formally introduced to the District of Squamish municipal council on Tuesday (Nov. 3).
Fire Chief Ray Saurette introduced Adams, who has served in the District of North Vancouver for more than two decades and has resided in Squamish for the last eight years.
"We are excited to bring him on. He brings great assets to an already diverse and well experience fire rescue team," said Saurette.
"It's a real honour and a privilege and I'm really looking forward to this," Adams said.
World Town Planning Day proclaimed
Director of planning Cameron Chalmers asked council to recognize the significant role urban planners play in communities and honour their contributions by proclaiming Nov. 8 World Town Planning Day in Squamish.
"It was established in 1949 to acknowledge the contributions planers made in forming communities," Chalmers said.
Gardner said District of Squamish planners have earned the acknowledgment.
"We have as good of a department as any, in my opinion, and so with that I would be pleased to move the recommendation."
Council unanimously voted in favour of proclaiming Nov. 8 as world Town Planning Day in the district.
World Diabetes Day proclaimed
On behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Coun. Corinne Lonsdale presented council with a motion to proclaim Nov. 14 World Diabetes Day in the District of Squamish. That particular date was chosen to mark World Diabetes Day in honour of the birth of Dr. Frederick G. Banting, who discovered insulin.
Lonsdale urged council to proclaim Nov. 14 World Diabetes Day in Squamish, since nearly three million Canadians affected by diabetes.
"I am happy to support the cause," she said.
Council unanimously voted in favour of the proclamation.
Council feels the Torch Relay spirit
The 2010 Olympic torch relay will be the longest single country relay, covering approximately 45,000 km across Canada, according to Margot Dent, the co-chair of the Squamish torch relay task force.
Squamish is just one of 200 sites across the country, which has been designated as an official celebration site for the 2010 Olympic torch relay. Dent informed council members about the free festivities planned for Feb. 4, the day before the Olympic torch will be carried through Squamish.
The community celebrations will be family oriented and will include local talent, entertainers and athletes.
"It's meant to be a celebration for the entire community and also to showcase ourselves to the world which will be watching us," Dent said.
In an effort to spread the Olympic spirit the task force handed out pairs of red Olympic mittens to council and invited everyone to join the torch relay festivities in the parking lot of the Brennan Park Recreation Centre on Feb. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Santa Claus parade route to be determined
Event organizer Shanda Dosanjh outlined her plans for this year's Santa Claus parade, scheduled to be held on Dec. 11. Dosanjh told councillors the parade should be held during the evening so families can go out and enjoy all of the holiday lights.
Dosanjh noted the tentative route of the downtown parade would include stretches on Cleveland Avenue, Vancouver Street, Second Avenue and Pemberton Avenue. Dosanjh also said the committee is investigating ways to provide treats to attendees without littering the streets with candy wrappers.
"We're going to go to the community and get people to sponsor treat stations rather than just throwing things in [to the parade]," she said.
"I think it will be good and make a lot of people happy."
Council unanimously voted that the road closure details of the Santa Claus parade be refined through municipality planning staff.
