Quō vādis Squamish?
Does anybody know where this town is going? Are we in the process of circling the drain, as a growing chorus of disenchanted online pundits allege, or are we headed for our own version of Nirvana, as a host of more optimistic observers predict?
Invariably, the truth lies somewhere between those two divergent scenarios.
In 2018, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses named Squamish one of Canada’s Top 10 communities for entrepreneurship. According to a local real estate agency’s website, Squamish is “awesome” and people moving here are “young, adventure-driven and professional.”
Another real estate broker refers to the place as an “amazing, vibrant and welcoming community.”
Sounds good, but that rosy assessment has lost its bloom for hundreds of Squamish residents who were recently given the bad news they no longer have access to a family doctor due to the ongoing physician exodus.
Soon 30,000 residents will call Squamish home. And those numbers could be just the beginning of a prolonged population explosion.
The scope and pace of development will continue to be a hot topic.
And the big challenge for the new council is to establish how much high density an already development-weary community can handle.
For the District’s planning department, the push towards rapid urban expansion buttressed by Smart Growth principles had plenty of upsides when it was hatched, including a municipal tax revenue boost, additional downtown housing, and job creation.
But these days, some members of that delegation may have a different take on the situation.
Would it be a stretch to say the feeling resembles the sudden unease experienced by the residents of the ancient kingdom of Troy after they got wise to the disturbing contents of the oversized wooden gift horse the invading Greeks so graciously bestowed upon them?
Former Squamish mayor Corrine Lonsdale believes, “We are at a crossroads. Our population has increased too quickly. Our newer residents and those who have lived here for a decade or more have not merged well.” Recently re-elected council member, John French, said many people had told him we’ve lost the sense of community, in particular, “connection and caring,” that made this town more liveable in the past.
But the elephant in the valley is the impending multi-million-dollar infrastructure revamp.
At least 75% of public facilities need to be refreshed or replaced.
One structure high on the renos and upgrades pecking order is Brennan Park.
The District is looking at spending $1.8 million on a playground and splash area and $3.5 million on an indoor sports facility at the rec centre, boosted by a recently announced $11.7 million slush fund from the federal government.
In other news, if the past is a guide, criminal activity will increase due to the population spike and our location straddling a busy highway.
According to numbers presented by staff Sgt. Gareth Bradley, overall crime in Squamish increased between 2020 and 2021.
And Squamish has a higher rate of Criminal Code offences than the Lower Mainland.
Added police boots on the ground, and a more efficiently deployed constabulary will be required to keep the lid on the place. Are the federally assigned RCMP still our best choice, or should the District look into ditching the Mounties and establishing a municipal police force? Whatever option, the tab for those services is projected to increase accordingly.
Over the next five to 10 years, tourism is expected to continue as a major economic engine, along with associated sectors.
The massive Oceanfront Squamish development, the Garibaldi at Squamish four-season resort and the planned residential development and surf park in Britannia Beach have the capacity to spawn jobs galore and mega-profits for their proponents.
They also have the potential to trigger over-the-top traffic gridlock.
To get a heads-up on the situation, check out re-runs of that 1970s TV cult classic The Gong Show on YouTube.
At the same time, how ready are we for chronic staff housing shortages and cost of living challenges for housed staff whose meagre pay cheques will barely cover sky-high rents?
No doubt, the folks in the celebrated resort municipality just north of here who have jumped through those hoops for the better part of two decades would be willing to answer that query over a shared libation or two.
In any event, the Speculation and Vacant Housing Tax cavalry charge are about to arrive in Squamish, and that levy could generate more stable, attainable and affordable housing.
Metro Vancouver’s application of the speculation tax, coupled with the 2% tax hit for foreign owners and satellite families, has led to the reappearance of approximately 20,000 condo units in the long-term rental market.
Everything considered, whether the glass in Squamish is half full or half empty has yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, more than a few newcomers and long-time residents are ready to sidestep that academic question altogether and chug a lug the contents of the glass.
Helmut Manzl is a political columnist and long-time Squamish local.
