Editor,
I am an artist living in Brackendale. For latest creative project as a filmmaker, I toured on a 35-day stint from one coast of America to the other in my 1988 Dodge Caravan visiting small town America to big New York City. I had the opportunity to see first hand how the world recession has affected so many people, their towns and their lives. As you all know, the recession has made many people lose their jobs. It has caused the break up of many families and has made their futures largely unknown.
So here we are in Squamish. Our town has changed and continues to change. Over the past several years, we've gained five new movie theatres, expanded our hospital emergency ward (which has an amazing maternity ward reputation), opened a world class university, welcomed a brand name hotel, along with new retailers, our very own farmer's market, new restaurants and eateries such as The Cup, Sushi Sen and a coming soon Fat Burger (got to like that!).
To top it off, we now have a new amazing scenic highway. Because of all these changes lots of people have been able to obtain jobs. Labourers with minimal experience have made $20 per hour to start.
People from all around the world have been moving here with their families bringing all their disposable and non-disposable income along with their new ideas. All this newness has certainly fuelled the local economy.
What is so bad with all these changes? What is wrong with the Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) project which will enable us to ski and board minutes from our town instead of driving all the way to Whistler or Vancouver?
There are some concerns but let's sit down and negotiate with the parties and get what we can. It's better to get some assurances rather than saying no and end up with something that we don't want.
GAS will create and generate construction jobs and local jobs in the community for the next 20+ years. It'll bring people to Squamish instead of Whistler to spend their money skiing, dining, and spend their hard earned cash in Squamish.
A lot of locals won't have to commute to Vancouver or Whistler any more. We'll have jobs in Squamish.
I'm only thinking of our kids, our community, the future generations and the opportunity this project will bring to them. Because after the Olympics (which is only six months away), Squamish and the rest of B.C. will go through a slow down and we should be so grateful to have this opportunity at our doorstep.
Not to worry folks, Squamish will still be surrounded by natural beauty. We just need to balance it with changes that will benefit our community.
Squamish is not like any other place, and it will not and will never be like any other place. Be positive in your life everyday, and embrace change, as change is inevitable.
Dougie Luv
Brackendale
