Local politicians are finally creating an organized front to address the opportunities and challenges coming this way with the 2010 Winter Games.After years of apparent indifference from VANOC, Squamish has created its own body of representation, dubbed the Squamish Olympic Coordinating Committee. "We're getting there a bit late," admitted Coun. Mike Jenson at a strategy session on Tuesday (May 27). He said the group would be able to improve local communication with VANOC.Preliminary members include Mayor Ian Sutherland, Coun. Greg Gardner, Chief Administrative Officer Kim Anema, deputy administrator Brent Leigh and tourism, parks and recreation director Bob Kusch. "A more directive approach from the top led by council is what I think we need in the community," said Gardner.After terms of reference have been decided, the committee is expected to grow to include stakeholders from a variety of organizations and businesses, including Quest University and the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation. "I think there has to be coordination with all of those groups," said Gardner.The committee was described as a springboard to community-wide action."It's a matter of keeping each other all on the same page," said Coun. Patricia Heintzman. "I see this as that opportunity as well as somewhere where we can brainstorm on things we want to achieve collectively."Without this collaboration, some Olympic-inspired efforts such as Wild At Art are forging ahead in the difficult days of winter without input from a body such as the Squamish Olympic Coordinating Committee, Gardner pointed out. With this oversight, he said festival organizers might decide February and March are not the best months to get the festival off the ground.After acting mayor Corinne Lonsdale directed the committee to come back with a terms of references within three months, Leigh said the group will be acting in a matter of weeks, not months."Time is eating us up really quickly," he said.
